Triumph of humanity over discrimination

The New Year Festival for differently abled:

Text and pix by Ranga Chandrarathne

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It was a community of men and women gathered at Sanghabodhi Vidyalaya in Nittambuwa to take part in a New Year Festival. Perhaps, the first of its kind held in Sri Lanka.

As parents gathered with eager eyes, their children in colourful attire took part in host of events organised by Sunera Mithuro, an organisation comprising the citizens of Sri Lanka irrespective of differences to give a helping hand to activities of Sunera Foundation, which is the pioneering organisation in rehabilitating and integration of differently-abled persons into the mainstream society.

“Sunera Mithuro” (Friends of Sunera), a voluntary organisation consisting parents and well-wishers of differently-abled persons who participate in workshops conducted by Sunera Foundation.

Sunera Foundation, envisioned and set up by Sunethra Bandaranaike, has been engaged in an effort to enlighten the lives of differently-abled persons by rehabilitating them through theatre workshops which are specially designed to bring about a change in their lives.

A highlight of the New Year Festival was the competitions for the selection of Avurudhu Kumaraya and Avurudhu Kumariya (Prince and Princess of the New Year) from the participants.

It was one of the events that attracted the interest of the audience as the differently-abled persons, most of them in their teens, impatiently waited for their turn to step on to the podium. According to parents, the New Year Festival was unique as the differently-abled persons were not welcomed to New Year Festivals held in their villages.

“We know that they (children) could not look after us in our old age. But what we wanted is to see them happy while we are alive.

Hengemudo Ayye (Shall we hide ourselves brother)... please don’t instead challenge obsolete ideas

Not to be thrown....but to be throned....

This New Year festival organised by Sunera Foundation was something that we were waiting for months and we, as parents, are very happy to see the children are enjoying it by taking part in events of the festival. After joining Sunera Foundation, my son has improved a lot,” said a parent who came to the festival from Negombo.

An important aspect of the festival was the team spirit and higher degree of enthusiasm on the part of the participants. Parents and well-wishers also participated in events organised for them.

There was stiff competition among the parents who participated in the Musical Chairs competition. The chairperson of Sunera Foundation, Sunethra Bandaranaike also took part in the event and stayed till the last round.

“This is a special Avurudu Uthsavaya as it is organised for our children. We could not take our children to New Year festivals when people look down on them as they are differently-abled persons. Here we have a group of differently-abled children so that they can enjoy it without any fear.

The teachers are so dedicated. The son who had been isolated at home, is now very happy as he found friends in the class. I take him everyday to Sunera Foundation with a great relief. We want to see them happy and to develop to a level where they can take care of themselves.

However, we do not know what their future will be, after our departure from the world, “said a happy parent who also took part in events organised for them.

All in all, the New Year festival was different in many aspects and offered, perhaps, the best platform to showcase creativity on the part of the differently-able persons. It was a testimony and tribute to the throughout the year dedicated work of all the workshop leaders and teachers who scarified a lot in training these differently-abled children who otherwise would spend lonely-days in virtual incarceration at their homes.

Above all Sunera Foundation and its Chairperson Sunethra Bandaranaike should be commended for taking up the issues of differently-abled persons. The activities of Sunera Foundation are very relevant in the light of a large number of disabled soldiers and restoring their rights as citizens.

The role of advocacy Sunera Foundation plays though indirectly through its activities, has substantially begun to make an impact on the perception of differently-abled persons in Sri Lanka.

It is heartening to witness the beaming faces of children who took part in the event as their parents prepared to depart from Sanghabodhi Vidyalaya. As the sun set marked the end of the day, we wonder how much that society could offer to brighten the lives of those who are less fortunate whether they are differently-abled persons or otherwise by treating them as fellow travellers in the long journey of life where each and every one of us has been a differently-abled person at one point or another.