What happens to people with special needs if their kith and kin do not have the means to support them? Who will look after them with care and concern?
There is a ‘House of Love’ (Daya Sevana) where they can find not only shelter but also love and care.
The latest addition to the campus of services run by the Sisters of Charity at Kegalle, Daya Sevana will open its doors on April 20, to its first batch of 14 mentally-challenged young adults, both male and female, whose families cannot support them.
They will find a home in a 14 bed-room housing unit, which also has music and art rooms and other recreational facilities, with the Sisters of Charity giving them that special attention including medical and nursing care, said Sr. Anastasia Perera, explaining that they will also be helped as far as possible to live independent lives and trained in some work skill depending on their individual capacity.
“Many people who are mentally challenged face difficulties when their parents grow old or siblings leave the families as they do not get that special attention and support they require. This is a place for such persons. We will try to keep it as homely as possible – we will get them involved in gardening, cooking etc so as to give them a sense of belonging,” she says.
Daya Sevana is not the first of the efforts of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, originating in Belgium, who came to Sri Lanka in 1896. Their network in many parts of the country include Supem Uyana in Gonapinuwela off Hikkaduwa for residential care and training of such children, Daya Mina in Embuldeniya for youth and Meth Mihira, a community-based day-care centre in Moratuwa. Daya Sevana, meanwhile, will focus on mentally-challenged adults.
Most of these adults have received training and education earlier and some are from our homes like Supem Uyana, says Sr. Anastasia. “We try to educate the families to keep their children at home because home is the best place to be. But sometimes their families don’t have the means to support them. Daya Sevana came about on requests put forward by many parents for a long time.”
Once they come into Daya Sevana, each person will be assessed and a work plan drawn up, she says stressing that it is a home rather than an institution and will not shut out links with their parents and siblings.
Daya Sevana is funded by the Sri Lanka Christian Organization, the Thorenedes Trust and the Ceylon Lodge all based in the United Kingdom, parents, friends and well wishers, coming under the umbrella organization of the Sudaya Trust.
Those who wish to make a donation could do so to the Daya Sevana Account No. 8210028659 at the Kegalle Commercial Bank. |
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