21st December 1997

Appeal for donations

A letter from Rev. Kenneth Fernando , Bishop of Colombo appeals for donations for the Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind.

"The Ceylon School for the deaf and blind, founded in 1912 is an institution run by the Church of Ceylon. It is one of the most important programmes serving the disabled in the country. There are three schools, as mentioned above serving about 750 children, irrespective of race or religion providing them with free board and education which include class room subjects as well as special vocational education. All this effort is intended to help these children enter into the mainstream of society and live an independent life with dignity. Students go up to A/L and some have even entered university and graduated. Many have found employment or are self employed.

Educating disabled children is costly, the ratio of teacher to student is about double that of an ordinary school. In addition, as children come from all parts of the country, they have to be provided with free hostel accommodation. The assistance from the Government meets only a small fraction of the cost. We therefore depend on friends and well wishers to run the school. In spite of their generosity, our deficit has increased year by year, mainly due to escalating costs.

The school is an approved charity-vide Gazette notification No. 1041 of 6.6.1952. Your contribution would support the education of disabled children.

Donations may be made payable to the Bishop of Colombo, 368/3A Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.

Continue to Plus page 11 * The human liberation of Christmas

Return to the Plus contents page

Read Letters to the Editor