Inception of the Plantation Project
Celebrating the successful pilot stage of Sunera Foundation workshops in the up-country tea plantations, performances were staged, on 3 April 2007 at the BMICH, Colombo by persons with disability from Sunera’s workshops in Hatton and Maskeliya. This was followed by an open forum. Lively participation from a cross-section of civil society highlighted the need for greater awareness on the human rights of people with disabilities. The bilateral programme of the British High Commission funded the pilot project.
This project has expanded our work of psychosocial support to persons living with disability in the up-country region of Sri Lanka. This region faces unique disadvantages in key areas such as health, education, access to justice and fundamental rights. Our workshops empower disabled youth in this region, through creative expression.
Workshops and activities
At the inception of the Plantations Project there were 10 workshops that were conducted in the region and they were as follows: Batalgalla, Injestry, Yullifield, Kotagala, Medakumbura, Carolina, Mahanelu, Brownswick, St. John Delary and Kotiyagala.
New Initiative
The Plantations Project has also started work on a Street Theatre Project which takes dramas containing relevant social issues to communities and families at the grass roots level. Resource persons have begun training our trainers and participants in this region in this innovative form of drama.
Participants and trainers in Hatton practising for the Street Theatre Project
Sunera Street Theatre performances
Sunera’s Plantations Project will perform its Street Theatre performance during the course of February and March 2009. Sunera’s street theatre project took taking place on 28 February and 1 March 2009 while Sunera’s Plantations Project will perform its Street Theatre performance during the course of January 2009:
28 February 2009 (3.00pm) - at its venue opposite the Kotagala Post office
1 March 2009 (9.30am) - at its venue opposite the Bogawanthalawa Town Hall
1 March 2009 (3.00pm) - at its venue near the Hatton Bus Stand
Sunera street theatre a success
It has been a busy time for the Plantation sector workshop trainers and participants, who, for the last three months have been rehearsing for their street theatre performances, which took place on 28 February to 1 March 2009.The performance on 28 February took place in Kotagala Town and consisted of participants from the Yuillefield, Kotagala, and Maddekumbura workshops. The 40 strong cast performed a drama titled “Disabled Persons Are Human too”.
The morning performance on 1 March 2009 took place in the Bogawanthalawa town centre. The 60 strong cast consisted of participants and trainers from the Kotiyagala, St. John Delary, Gowrawila and Glentilt workshops performed a drama entitled “Save The Environment”.
The afternoon performance on 1 March 2009 in the Hatton Town Centre entitled “New Opportunities For Disabled Persons” was performed by a cast of 60. All performances were attended by audiences of about 200. During a discussion on March 6, Sunera Trustee, Azira Esufally said, “The performances created awareness of disability issues in that area. Though the performances were not polished, they were beneficial to the participants and community alike. The goal of creating awareness was certainly achieved.” On 4 March 2009, we had a chat with the Assistant Field Manager, John Philip and he had this to say, “The performances were a success judging by the crowds that gathered. It is also the first time we have done such a thing in the plantations region”.
Performance in Hatton on the afternoon on 1 March
Performance in Kotagala on 28 February
Performance in Bogawanthalawa on the morning of 1 March
Capacity Building for Plantation Workshop Trainers
Television and Theatre personality, Richard Manamudali, gave the benefits of his performance experience to our Plantation sector workshops. On 13 June, he visited the Yuillefield workshop and observed the activities there. Based on what he saw and gleaned, he conducted a workshop for all nine of our trainers in this region on 14 June. He gave them inputs on how to work with disabled youth, how to be sensitive to disability without being patronising, how to incorporate constructive activities into their weekly workshops and other aspects of theatre and performance. We wish to thank Richard for his time and valuable inputs and look forward to working with him again in the future.