Peter Mackness – our regular donor

by Lionel Bandara | Oct 3, 2014 | Events

Peter Mackness

A very generous donation of £2500 :- was received by DABAL, from Peter Mackness in honour of the memory of his late brother John Frederick Mackness, who suffered severe damage to his sight and hearing after contracting Meningitis at the age of two years.

When forwarding his donation Peter Mackness included three eulogies given at his brother’s funeral service, which celebrated his brother’s life and achievements.

The first eulogy in the form of a letter from Peter to his brother, described John’s academic achievements, and his love of nature which had led him to undertake a variety of activities such as long country walks, mountaineering, and the “Pick Your Own” seasonal activities for fruit and vegetables.

The second eulogy from John’s friend Peter Harris praised John’s keen intellect and his curiosity about the world in general as well as his enthusiasm for classical music, railways and their workings.

A third eulogy from another friend Patricia Auty, highlighted John’s love of erudite conversation, particularly with regard to current affairs and descriptions of flora and fauna.
All three eulogies emphasised John’s independence of spirit, his outstanding intellectual and personal qualities, and above all his enthusiastic and independent spirit which enabled him to lead a productive life in spite of his disabilities.

In his letter of thanks to Peter Mackness, Priya Welikala the Treasurer of DABAL, stated that the life of John Mackness would be of great interest to all members of DABAL, and an inspiration to the charity to continue with its work in reaching out to the disadvantaged in Sri Lanka.

Honoring Our Generous Donor: Peter Mackness

Peter Mackness has been a steadfast supporter of Deaf and Blind Aid Lanka (DABAL) since 2014. He began donating to our charity in memory of his beloved brother, and his generosity has made a significant impact on our mission.

Over the years, Peter’s donations have been utilized for various projects that benefit deaf and blind children in rural schools across Sri Lanka. His contributions have been instrumental in enhancing the welfare and educational opportunities for these children, ensuring they have the support they need to thrive.

Peter, your unwavering support is invaluable to us. Your dedication to our cause is deeply appreciated, and we are grateful for the difference you are making in the lives of these children.

Thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to DABAL.

The Abilities of Children in Schools

Visually impaired children are particularly skilled in creating handmade crafts. Using their heightened sense of touch, they can produce intricate and beautiful items. From weaving and knitting to pottery and sculpture, their creations often showcase remarkable precision and artistic flair. These crafts not only serve as a form of self-expression but also provide therapeutic benefits and a sense of accomplishment.

Our talanted children

Deaf and blind children, especially those in rural schools, possess a remarkable array of abilities that often go unrecognized. Despite the challenges they face, these children demonstrate incredible resilience and creativity, excelling in various activities and crafts.

Musical Talents

Many deaf and blind children have a natural affinity for music. With specialized training, they can learn to play musical instruments and even compose their own pieces. Music provides them with a means to connect with others and express their emotions. It’s not uncommon to find visually impaired students excelling in piano, violin, or percussion, delighting audiences with their performances.

In summary

The abilities of deaf and blind children in rural schools are a testament to their strength and ingenuity. By recognizing and supporting these talents, we can help them achieve their full potential and enrich their lives. It is crucial to continue providing the resources and opportunities they need to thrive, ensuring they can contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond.

2012 – Saubagya Vidyalaya, Kumbukkana Monaragala school visit

by Lionel Bandara | Jun 5, 2012 | Schools-Visits

Visit to Wellassa Saubagya Vidyalaya, Kumbukkana Monaragala - 2012

Deaf and Blind school – Monaragala
Nadani and I set off from Colombo at around 5.30 am on 5th June to Monaragala – a distance of approximately 283 kilometres, on newly paved roads which are of International standard. We went pass the lush evergreen Sri Lankan countryside passing Ratnapura,Embilipitiya,Uda Walawe,Wellawaya and coming close to Hambantotas the new Cricket ground and Airport, and reached the school for a late lunch at the residence of the Principal Mr Sarath kaluarachchi. Anticipating our visit the local community too had made their contribution to the lunch. Moneragala is in the deep South-East of Sri Lanka, close to Hambantota, Kataragama, Yala National Park and Arugam Bay the world class surfing location on the East coast .Dripping with green foliage the centre of Moneragala nestles beneath Peacock Rock, a round topped hunk of forest covered mountain

The school was started in 1997, with two blind children. Today it has 35 Blind pupils and 70 Deaf and Dumb pupils. The boys number 49 and the girls 56.The children are from poor and troubled families and come from different areas like Amparai, Moneragala, Badulla, Hambantota etc. There are 16 permanent teachers who are paid by the Education Dept and 4 temporary who have to be paid from the school funds. The students study up to O/L classes. For A/L they go to mainstream schools. They have three University students at present.

The Board of Management consist of 31 members. The school is accountable to the Dept of Social Services and Education Dept. The accounts are audited annually. The current Account is maintained with Bank of Ceylon with two signatories from Principal/Treasurer/Secretary to sign cheques.

Social Services give a grant of Rs 50 per child per day. Like other Rural Deaf and Blind schools, Moneragala school depends on donations from local well wishers and sometimes outsiders for their survival. Food is a big item of expenditure. They grow their own vegetables, coconuts and fruits.

They have five computers, but only one Braille computer
Apart from the usual school subjects, vocational training is done in a very systematic way. We saw additional building work on a new section which is being built by the students. Masonary, Carpentry is all in house and we saw a strong community spirit and work ethic. The school has an outlet to sell the products of household items such as handbags, shopping bags, computer bags targeting the Colombo market. Products are made by students and sponsored by Dilmah Tea Company.

The children are in residential care and have separate boys and girls dorms with matrons in charge

They are very proud of their sporting achievements with their star head boy, Chandana Deshapriya playing for the Sri Lanka Blind World Cup Cricket team who entered the semi-final. Chandana Deshapriya, won the Man of the Match award more than once.

The Principal indicated that when they come to know of any Blind or Deaf child living with parents and not attending the school they visit the home and try to persuade them to send the child to school. In his estimate around 30percent of Deaf and Blind children are kept at home without any schooling.The vitality and enthusiasm of the Principal Mr kaluarachchi is the key component of the successful running and management of the school. His skill in networking has greatly rewarded the school in receiving generous donations for various projects run by the school
At the conclusion of the visit we gave tea and cakes to the students on behalf of DABAL. They on round us with a moving concert. At the concert the Principal acknowledged our donation indicating in detail how the money was going to be utilised. The head boy gave a vote of thanks indicating the student appreciation for the care shown by Dabal for the poor rural students. It was an emotionally draining experience to both of us.

We left Moneragala feeling that what Dabal is doing in penetrating remote Sri Lanka is a step in the correct direction which will perhaps awaken the authorities in the country to do more for the disabled children. Priya Welikala

2010 – DABAL – Annual General Meeting

by Lionel Bandara | May 14, 2010 | Annual-General-Meeting

DABAL – Annual General Meeting – 2010
The Annual General Meeting of the Deaf and Blind Aid Lanka(DABAL),a UK Registered Charity (Number 1123487), was held on Sunday 11th April at St Vincents Centre,Victoria,with a good turnout of members and friends. The AGM was preceded by a sumptous Sri lankan lunch and the occasion was graced by the presence of His Excellency Mr Nihal Jayasinghe,High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom and Mrs Indra Jayasinghe.The new Chairperson Mr Sarath Weerasinghe took over from the outgoing Chairperson Mr Feisal Hussain. After the AGM the guest speaker Mr Dai Liyanage,MBE,addressed the gathering with a very educative and informative speech on his experiences in the field of Charity work.

2009 – Kurunegala Sandagala Special School visit

by Lionel Bandara | Jun 13, 2009 | Schools-Visits

School visit to Sandagala Uhumeeya Deaf And Blind School, Kurunegala – 2009

Priya and Nadani Welikala

A DAY OF DISCOVERY

Once again it was my privilege to visit KU/Sandagala special school, Uhumiya to handover personally the donation of the cheque of £1,500 – last year’s beneficiary of Dabal.

Unfortunately I did not have the pleasure of Feisal’s and Ameera’s company to visit the school, as I had planned prior to my departure from London. Unlike the earlier visits to schools who were beneficiaries of our charity – this was a very daunting experience, since we had no contact at all with the school or knowledge of its existence. I was on my own to research the identity of the school and to access the remote village of Uhumiya in the North West region of Kurunegala and, may I gently point out, to find time, travel costs and the energy, in my otherwise private busy and short visit to Sri Lanka.

I set off on Monday the 1st February in the company of our son Ossie and cousin Roshan leaving Colombo at 5:00 a.m. to avoid the heavy morning traffic on a busy week day, with a short stopover on the way for breakfast, at a wayside café. We reached the school at 11:00 a.m. To my surprise we drove into a large well established school compound where some students, turned out in immaculate white uniforms, were occupied with sports activities under the supervision of some staff members.

It was more an adventure trail finding the school in a rural environment with its scenic beauty and we to introduce ourselves as strange invaders of their privacy and insist for “On the spot inspection” of the school and their official records to satisfy DABAL’s required criteria before handing over the cheque.

As always in Sri Lanka we were welcomed by the principal, Mr K.A Sumithkumara and the administrator of the school Mr H.M K.S Illangakoon, with broad smiles and deliciously prepared tea which helped us to relax and enjoy the day’s experience.

The school was founded on 6th March 1968, with financial help of Mr S.H Benjamin and Mr W.R Perera, with four deaf and two blind children. The land was donated, with the original building, which is 150 years old, by Mr Narayana Mudiyandelage Appuhamy (1916-1974), the proprietor of Sathiyawadi Motors and Transport of Kurunegala – a successful businessman and philanthropist. He was appointed to the Senate (October 1965 – November 1971).

At present the school consists of 135 students and 26 staff members. The staff salaries are paid by the Government and they provide the textbooks and school uniforms for each child for the year. Most students are mainly from the impoverished North Central Province of Sri Lanka. They are provided with board and lodging in the school. The school is well established and very well run by the School Hostel Welfare Society, which consists of the local government officials and members of the public. The school is in desperate need of additional toilet facilities and fans, at present.

The school provides educational facilities up to GCE O.L classes and vocational training in painting, carpentry, manufacturing of coconut palm product, agriculture and computer skills. Seventeen students from the school have gone on to qualify as graduates and are employed in varied fields – which is a heart warming success story.

I was taken around the whole school and hostel premises for inspection. The kitchen was busy preparing the day’s main meal, with a large number of people cooking meals which brought the waft of spices and hunger in me! I was told that it was the local community who were preparing the food as Dhana to feed the students in memory of the Gramasevaka’s mother. They depend on the generosity of the villagers to feed the students who are unable to pay fees.

About The Owners

The school maintains a Bank account with Pradeshiya Co-operative Grameeya Bank and the Accounts are audited by the Kurunegala Division Education Secretariat. When the Principal received the cheque from me, in the presence of the Senior staff members, he expressed that the school had never received donations in cash – always only in kind and it was like winning the lottery. He thanked DABAL for its good work and kindness of thought and deed.

What touched me most was the kindness and generosity of the local people, who kept the school running, maintaining a good standard of education – providing good quality of life for these children in need, whose self confidence was amazingly striking.

The school is well worth a visit by all members of DABAL. Nadani Welikala

2009 – Batticaloa Dharisanam School for the Visually Handicapped

by Lionel Bandara | Jun 1, 2009 | Schools-Visits

Batticaloa

Dharisanam School for the Visually Handicapped

A trip to Batticaloa

I had to cover 350 kilometres by road to get to Dharisanam School for the Visually Handicapped, the beneficiary chosen at our last AGM, in order to personally hand over a cheque for £1,500 and meet the 28 resident students.

As Priya was unable to accompany me, our son Ossie and cousin Roshan joined me in this adventurous journey to the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. We set off at 5a.m. on the 12th of October 2009, making our first stop at Kurunegala to refresh ourselves with breakfast. I enjoyed the drive through Habarana and Polonnaruwa, the dry zone of Sri Lanka which had held a great fascination for me since my early schooldays. We reached Batticaloa, tired and famished by 1:30p.m. for a fabulous seafood spread of fish, crab and prawn lunch laid on by the school officials. We were very warmly welcomed by the Executive Committee members – the President – Mr. Dayanandan, the Secretary – Mr. Kamaladas and three administrators who were blind.

Unlike my first visit to Batticaloa eleven years ago when I went with the UNICEF volunteers to the uncleared areas of the Batticaloa District, which was under the control of the defeated LTTE roaming the streets fully armed with complete lawlessness, it was a contrastingly different scene which unfolded before me. The highway from Polonnaruwa to Batticaloa was a smooth run with a newly built carpet road which was better than the London motorways! There was a lot of construction work going on in the city. It was indeed a beautiful sight driving along the blue lagoon, with fresh sea air blowing and schoolgirls and boys smartly turned out in white uniforms on bicycles returning home after school. Most ladies were riding scooters and the roads were quite busy. There was an air of confidence among the people who were getting about without fear or restrictions. The driver of our vehicle, Rohana, who was going to Batticaloa for the first time, was pleasantly surprised that the eastern province, which had suffered the tragedies of war for three decades and the tsunami, was in an upbeat mood. Our son, Ossie, simply fell in love with the place.

The Dharisanam School and hostel is a well planned and constructed building provided by the Social Services Department. It has a separate wing with two large guest rooms above the building, donated by a charity from the Netherlands, which we occupied for our overnight stay. It was spacious and clean, with attached bath and toilets. I was overwhelmed by the treatment given to us by the executive members – typical Sri Lankan hospitality offered with a generous smile!

After lunch and a brief rest we were taken around to view the school and hostel which accommodates 28 students between the ages of 5 to 22, both boys and girls. The students, who attend the mainstream schools for their academic studies, assembled in the Main Hall along with all the staff members in order to be introduced to me. The President addressed the meeting, acknowledging our donation. This was followed by a musical concert performance by the students and a party to celebrate the function.

Though the schools had the space and facilities to accommodate up to 50 students, they had difficulty in getting children to join them due to the negative attitude of the families. The school is very well run by professional and experienced staff members who give priority to the children’s needs and care. The students expressed their wish and desire to continue in the school because of the care and motivation to continue with academic achievements. The school prepared the children to attend mainstream schools in the area to achieve academic standards. The school has successfully produced 13 graduates reading different disciplines – Science, IT, Commerce, Political Science, Environmental Studies. The students were happy in this school/hostel system.

We were taken around Batticaloa town on a sightseeing tour by the Executive Committee and entertained to a sumptuous dinner, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
Nadani Welikala