Hope for the underprivileged

Saturday, 9 November 2013 07:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

‘Building Hope’ Children’s Resource Centre is a gift for children residing in the city of Colombo Education of children takes a high priority in the global agenda for growth. While the importance of education for all is a subject that is keenly promoted throughout; the reality is that millions of children are too poor to benefit from this declaration unless there is a special intervention made on their behalf. The context of ‘all children should receive free, good quality education’ is often overlooked as such children belonging to the poorest grouping do n

ot form a special category in poverty eradication intervention programs. Their inclusion in the achievement of ‘education for all’ appears to be an unpredictable phenomenon. In Sri Lanka, with a free education system in full swing, many students are encouraged to pursue their dreams and goals. The proposed project ‘Building Hope’ is designed on a similar line, encouraging children to participate in educational activities free of charge; with a target to protect the most vulnerable youth in the city of Colombo. A gift from the UK ‘Building Hope’ Children’s Resource Centre is a gift from the Leeds City Council UK to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). The Centre is located at No. 85, Nagaswatta Road, Kirulapone in a beautiful plot of land which previously belonged to the CMC. The property has been handed over to the Public Health Department by Mayor A. J. M Muzammil. CMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, who has understood the potential of the facility has taken over and is dedicated to provide a range of services for larger groups of underprivileged children between the ages of 3 to 21 years who reside within the Colombo city. Facilities provided Spanning across two acres of land, the resource centre offers computer classes, spoken English for grades 1-5 as well as adults, English

grammar for children, and vocational classes in Tamil and mathematics classes for various age groups which is sponsored by Rotarians and private firms. There are art, music and dancing classes run be volunteers as well. Library facilities are available for those interested. For those who like extracurricular activities, the centre offers basketball training and herbal plant growing (in association with Siddhalepa Group). A nursery for children is also operated within the premises by the CMC. The centre offers counselling sessions for families once a week conducted by the NGO, Home-Start. It also carries out various medical camps and dengue prevention work within the area with the support of another NGO, AFICS. Close to 350 children attending these classes reside in the vicinity of the centre while some others come from Colombo 5 and 6. The classes are conducted once a week. Spreading awareness among parents on the importance of educating their children while motivating them to utilise the classes offered at the Centre, ‘Building Hope’ Child Resource Centre helps facilitate and develop a child-friendly education system model while creating interest in formal education among children. The centre promotes equitable access to basic and secondary education while improving the quality of education. Programs at the centre also help stimulate interest in initiatives such as micro-credit and health initiatives among parents. Hope for the future The resource centre runs with the help of funds from the private sector, NGO’s and donations while the basic costs of salaries of employees, and utility bills, etc. are borne by the CMC. In the future, the centre hopes to conduct programs in cookery and needlework with the aim of empowering women to become self-employed in times of need. It also hopes to build badminton and table tennis courts to further encourage youth and facilitate sports based empowerment; while a host of other initiatives are also in the drawing board. Sponsorship or donations for the said programs and for the future success of the centre is welcomed.