News updates for Workshops ↓

These photographs were taken during the visit of FSF Trustee Alison Skilbeck. During her stay, she visited many of the workshops.  She met with the parents of the workshop participants, trainers and staff of the Sunera Head Office.

The main highlight of Alison Skilbeck’s visit was that she staged her one woman show “Are There More Of You?” from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2011. The show, which was a fundraiser for the Sunera Foundation, was performed at British Council, Colombo, on January  13& 14. The event turned out to be a huge success.  Alison played to a full house on both nights and the audience greatly enjoyed it.

A review that appeared in the Sunday Times newspaper following the show stated thus, “Each woman’s story, is served up with a twist, and the audience is given the chance to be there, in the very moment they make their leap into a new life or resign themselves to the ones they already have. Each story is laced with panic and despair, humour and resilience……As an actress, Alison has a wonderfully expressive face, and she is beautiful to watch as she makes the transition from one character to another, adopting a new accent, attitude and appearance for each.”

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We reproduce below a translation of a letter which was sent to the Sunera Foundation by the Parents’ Committee of the Badulla Sunera workshop.

 Bank of Ceylon savings accounts were opened for a large number of members from  Sunera workshops, following a project initiated to mark the Sambudathva Jayanthi celebrations.  The project covered workshops in Akuressa, Matara, Weligama, Galle, Imaduwa, Horana, Dharga Town, Panadura, Dehiwela, Maharagama, Kurunegala, Nikaweratiya, Horombawa, Horagolla, Negombo, Puttalam,  Anuradahpura, Chilaw, Anamaduwa, Thalawa, Kekirawa, Badulla, Bandarawela, Welimada, Mawanella and Kandy.  The selection of beneficiaries was done according to a list of names updated as at April 1, where members  who attended workshops regularly were entitled to receive the savings accounts with a deposit of Rs. 2000.  The project was the concept of  Bank of Ceylon Chairman Dr. Gamini Wickremesinghe and the Chairperson of Sunera Foundation Sunethra Bandaranaike. Prior to handing over the savings books, parents and guardians of the participants were briefed by the bank officials on the benefits relating to the savings accounts.

Mawanella workshop participants receiving their savings deposits at a ceremony held on August 14.

A sports festival was organised by the Sabaragamuwa Branch (Sethmini) of Caritas, in which the participants of the Mawanella workshop were involved.

The festival was held on January 22, 2011 and those who participated were given certificates and gifts.

 
A progress review meeting was held on January 5 and 6, 2011 in Colombo.

All Sunera trainers participated at this meeting which was chaired by the Chairperson, Executive Director and Finance Manager.

The discussion focussed on the progress of Sunera workshop activities in 2010 and mapping out the programme for 2011.

Maharagama
A programme which consisted of song, dance and drama was held for Christmas at the Sudharmarama Temple in Maharagama on December 9, 2010 and was organised by the Parent’s Association of the Maharagama Sunera Workshop.

Maskeliya
Christmas carols were held at the Glentilt Estate staff clubhouse in Maskeliya on December 21, 2010. It was conducted by the Glentilt Sunera Workshop.

Negombo
The workshops in Negombo and Horagolla collaborated to host a programme for Christmas at the YMCA in Negombo on December 18, 2010, organised by the Parent’s Association of the Negombo and Horagolla Workshops.

The Rotary Club of Kandy partnered with us to start a Sunera workshop in the Kandy town on 23 February.  Approximately 20 participants attended the inaugural workshop. 

We wish to extend our gratitude to Mrs. Ayesha Imbuldeniya Wijeratne and her team at the Kandy Rotary Club for supporting our work.

 Sunethra Bandaranaike (Centre) and Ayesha Wijeratne sign the MOU establishing the workshop

 Participants enjoy the inaugural workshop

We are pleased to have started two new workshops in Thirukovil and Kalmunai on 13 February with the support of  the Swiss INGO, Terres Des Hommes.   The inaugural workshops proved to be a success as they were well attended, and appreciated thanks to the successful activities conducted by our PDOs, Chathuranga and Sandun. 

We wish to extend our gratitude to the local government official for the Kalmunai Tamil Division Mr. Victor de Alwis, General Manager for Human Link Mr. A Kamardeen, Deputy Principal for Wesley High School in Kalmunai Mr S. Kalaiyarasan, Public Relations Officer for Terre Des Hommes in Batticaloa Mr G. Nivard, The local government official for Thirukovil Mr, K. Rajarathnam and Reverend Ravi Murukapillai of the Methodist Church Thirukovil, for supporting our work in this area. Participants in Thirukovil

 Participants in Kalmunai

The participants and mothers of our Panadura workshop enjoyed a change during their regular workshop, on Friday 8th January.

Singapore based jewellery designer, Rashantha Devanesan conducted a jewelry making workshop, during which participants and mothers enjoyed putting together their own creations from colourful beads and accessories that we had provided for them.

 Whilst the children had great fun, the mothers saw the exercise as extremely relaxing and therapeutic.

Susila, one of the mothers said, “this was such a wonderful experience.  We hope we have more inputs like this soon”.

 Dinusha (far right) enjoys making jewelry with her step mother and sister

 All the participants sporting their own creations!

On 12^th September, participants of the Matara District workshops performed dance and drama items to local audiences.  The Akuressa workshop participants performed a play titled “Apooru Thegga” (Special Gift) which was directed and produced by Menaka Priyadharshana.  The Dennipitiya workshop participants performed “Wahallu” (Slaves), which was directed and produced by Danusha Stella.  Finally, the Matara workshop participants performed “Thoona Hamarai” (Three Thirtday), which was directed and produced by Chandana Vasantha.

These performances were jointly organised by Sunera Foundation and the Matara Samadhi Community Development Foundation. 

Sunera Chairperson Sunethra Bandaranaike, Samadhi Foundation Chairman Buddhika Pathirana, Sunera Executive Director Chandrika Subasinghe and Sunera Field Manager Dhammika Gamage attended the performances, which had an audience of approximately 400, consisting of the family members of the cast, Local Government Officials, clerics and general members of the community.

Based on the feedback we received after the performances, it is apparent that the participants, parents and trainers greatly appreciated this endeavour and its value in raising disability awareness in the their community.