Sound
of Hope
‘Sound of Hope’ a musical fund raiser to uplift the current facility
of the Boys’ Industrial Home (BIH), located at 490/4, Havelock Road,
Colombo 6, will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 6.30 p.m. at
the British School Auditorium.
The musical extravaganza, organised by a group of volunteers and the
Management Committee of the BIH, will bring together choirs and artists,
including Voice Print, the LG Singers, the British School Choir, the
Methodist College Choir, the children’s choir of the Revelations
Academy, and Shayami and Chadash, all of whom will be performing free of
charge for this very worthy cause.
Set up in March 1890, BIH is one of the oldest homes in Sri Lanka and
is a haven for orphans and boys who have no home, or need to be removed
from their present environment due to tragic family circumstances caused
by various addictions, abuse or mere abject poverty.
The BIH is one of the Homes under the umbrella of the Methodist
Church, Sri Lanka, and is run by a Management Committee, whose Chairman
J. C. S Rohitha De Silva is also the Chairman of the Central District of
the Church.
A Warden is resident on the premises and a dedicated and committed
Sub Committee, inclusive of a Treasurer and Secretary guide the work of
the Home. The accounts of the BIH are audited by an independent firm of
Chartered Accountants.
At
present the BIH has 25 boys, 14 of them under the age of 12 and 11
between 13 and 19 years, attending Wesley College. The BIH spends a sum
of Rs. 6000/- per child per month on food and clothes as well as their
medical needs. This is in addition to the amount spent on their
education and extra-curricular activities. The dire need of providing
better living conditions for the children, prompted the Committee to
embark on this fund raiser as an initial effort. The proceeds of the
musical will be donated towards uplifting the current facility which is
over 125 years old. Plans have been drawn up for two new dormitories, a
Library, a Computer Laboratory and Sick Room.
It is also the intention of the Committee to use part of the existing
facility as a hostel for those who leave the BIH after their schooling
and need accommodation in Colombo to pursue training and employment, as
well as to rent out a section of the Home so that the BIH can be
sustained.
The BIH is not funded by any external or Sri Lankan funding agency
and the necessary funds have been generated by donations of friends of
the BIH.
“While raising funds for the new facility, we need to raise funds in
tandem, for the day to day expenses as well”, said a Committee member.
Tickets for the musical extravaganza priced at Rs. 5,000, Rs.3,000,
Rs.2,000 and Rs.1,000 are available at 108 A Maya Avenue, Colombo 6
between 8.45 a.m. – 5.45 p.m. on weekdays. Contact Melanie on
0717019747, Supun 0755341041 or Vasantha 0773012992. |