How tears of pain turned to joy

Sanhinda Children’s Home - a home away from home:

By Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

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Theirs was a life of many sleepless nights, a life totally estranged and far from the accepted norm, a poignant story of acrimony and compulsion by their very own parents that made their childhood despicable: the inevitable was at hand, from dusk to dawn not far from you and me, right in the heart of Pettah at Gunasinghapura where these little innocent children were once battered and abused, used for drug trafficking and sex.

A section of the dormetory

The Meegoda Girls’ Home

But today their destiny has been changed forever by a father of our nation; literary critic turned eminent sociologist who changed the lives of many following his extensive researches. Probably the most significant of research studies would have been on ‘The Beggars in Sri Lanka’ that spurred the Sociologist, Criminologist and Anthropologist, Prof Nandasena Ratnapala raise the lives of these children in 1996 by moving them out from the doldrums and giving them shelter; a home away from home at the ‘Sanhinda Children’s Home where today their tears and fears have turned many a beaming face and smiles that speak a thousand words.

But the incessant battle goes on for the Home Management Committee to upkeep this place; to continue the good work they started and feed and clothed these 102 children from the ages of 4-17.

The aspiration to continue their mentors mission is proof of the dedicated hands and minds that work tirelessly behind the scenes having given of their services voluntarily to teach and guide these children: the voluntary services of those interested in teaching and lending a helping hand is much appreciated for love and compassion is cost free; for it can make a world of difference today.

The task has not been easy at all for the Committee, it never was even when Prof Ratnapala began the project but yet they move on: for them every day is a new day in hope to give these children a life worth living for.

The House Mother of the Sanhinda Children’s Home Kollupitiya, a young graduate in her twenties herself ‘Sandiya Kumudini Mother’ as the children call her is a mother, guide and teacher to all who simply adore her.

Though the paint on the walls of the two storeyed building are dry and the linen on their beds are faded and old, these tender hearts who have long lost the warmth of their mothers’ appreciate every little thing done for them; every meal provided by well wishers, every toy that is presented and every bit of clothing and stationery donated; for their hearts too yearn for a better tomorrow.

A creative work of art by one of the students

These children who previously led lives devoid of education have all been streamlined into the normal school curriculum: four of them are school prefects while some have excelled in sports and a few of them have even completed their education and are now employed.

There are many children below the age of four who wait in hope to join their brothers and sisters as the waiting list keeps piling up but the Home Management Committee say they are unable to cope with it due to the uncertainties of funding.

The abode of these children to whom education, love and compassion were luxuries; was a home which was assisted by none other than the vendors of Pettah by way of food and the assistance received from the Sathya Sai Organisation.

There had been much resistance from the parents and the labourers in Pettah but and the ‘Sanhinda Children’s Home,’ carries on. The Home was subsequently moved to Ginarajah Vidyalaya, Kollupitya an abandon school, opposite the Buddhist Temple in 2004 says Ranjith Willawaarachchi, ASP, Police Headquarters, a graduate in Sociology and Mr Sivakumaran, retired Telecom Engineer the secretary and treasurer of the Sanhinda Children’s Home.

Meanwhile, Dr. Asoka Thenabandu too has rendered his services towards the welfare of the Home.

Reminiscent of the training the Sociology graduates received from Prof Ratnapala, ASP Ranjith says Prof Ratnapala was an ‘action sociologist’.

‘He put theory into practice and tested them. His life was a living experience,’ he says.

He simply believed in the Participant Observation Method and tested it thoroughly.’ Having successfully laid its foundation, two more branches were set up at Meegoda, the Meegoda Boys’ Home and the Girls’ Home Meegoda.

The Meegoda Boys’ Home spanning an acre of lush green land donated by a philanthropist and maintained by Lalith Gamhewa with ample space for the boys for their recreation was set up in June 2006 and proved to be a great success.

Progress has been recorded showing that within a year or two children have changed for the better in so much that they hope to set up a Religious and Cultural Centre and a Vocational Training Centre soon.

Meanwhile, The Girls’ Meegoda Home the most recent of the three homes was set up in April 2007 by a German resident Mrs Cruz Sudu Amma as called by girls, a close friend of Prof Ratnapala who volunteered to run the Home independently.

As the children of the Sanhinda Children’s Home struggle through strife to leave behind the social stigma that has caused them tears and pain to bear let the nation feel their hurting too and help them experience peace, joy, love and compassion in the days ahead.