Hearing impaired children: Lend us your ears

The Centre for Education o f Hearing Impaired Children ( CEHIC), which, during the past few decades, has trained hundreds of hearing impaired children to move into the mainstream of education and employment—is making an urgent appeal for funds from well-wishers to continue this noble mission.

For the past few months, the Dalugama- based multi- religious centre has run out of funds even to pay the salaries of teachers and other staff and to maintain basic facilities. In an appeal on behalf of the hearing-impaired children, CEHIC is appealing to people to join order for the purpose of running the Centre situated at L u m b i n i M aw a t h a , Dalugama, Kelaniya. Tel: 2910623 The appeal states, “At the CEHIC, children who are ignored and marginalised as deaf and “dumb” are educated and trained using the Auditory Verbal Method to hear and speak from the youngest pre- school age so that the child enters the mainstream of education.

“The CEHIC bases its work with hearing impaired children on five principal areas

The use of the Auditory Verbal Method of education (and not sign langue).

The morning pre- school education programme which sets the “deaf ” children and their families on the path of becoming creative and full members of our society from the earliest age.

Integration into the mainstream educational system in Sri Lanka at the school-going age and conducting extra daily classes in the afternoons in the key subjects of the national curriculum for the integrated children from Year One to Year 13 (University entrance)

Providing a holistic education which includes training in music, dancing, arts and craft , home science, sewing, woodwork, pottery, gymnastics and sports.

Making the parental involvement in the child’s early education a central pillar of the CEHIC programme. One parent accompanies his or her child every day, sits in the classroom alongside the child and learns the techniques and processes which are continued in the home. Thus the school becomes the home and the home becomes the school.

“Today more than 600 of the children are studying in regular schools throughout Sri Lanka. The oldest past pupils from CEHIC are now young adults and are facing life in the real world with all its challenges. Those who have the ability are encouraged to go into higher education and some have entered university and obtained degrees. Six of the past pupils have graduated from universities in Sri Lanka and two are currently completing their first degrees. For those who wish to enter the world of work, CEHIC is now planning to develop its Vocational Training and Aftercare Centre. The Centre has a full- time complement of teachers, administrative and minor staff and also part-time teachers.

“The driving force of CEHIC is the hope it instills in hearing impaired children that they too have a positive future as equal partners with other members of society in building a just, prosperous and peaceful Sri Lanka.

Would you not like to be part of this miracle?

“From the founding in 1982 CEHIC has been helped financially to find its running costs through the generosity of donor institutions, private individuals, friends and well- wishers both here and aboard. However, these donations are not continuous and CEHIC has to keep seeking funds from month to month for day-to-day expenses and training of teachers.

“CEHIC is committed to continue providing this very special, very expensive and time-consuming education. Free of Charge “Because it is convinced that charging fees from the children would exclude the poor from the services. CEHIC says it needs to find more than Rs. 450,000 a month for its running costs. The donations will be exempted from taxes. If you agree to join this Donor Club, please be kind enough to contact the centre at the following email addresses :info@ cehic. lk, gretanewlyn@ gmail. com, aloypsj@ gmail. com, robertcrusz@ yahoo.co.uk

“CEHIC is a charitable organisation. A standing order donation could be sent to Hearing Impaired Children’s Trust or HICT Account no 512325, Bank of Ceylon, Kadawatha, Sri Lanka. Swift Code: BCEYLKLX.

“You can complete and hand in a Standing Order from your bank, or let the CEHIC know the name of your bank and it will collect the form and bring it to you for completion and your signature. If you so wish, CEHIC itself will take your signed form to your bank.

“Be assured that these children who will benefit from your generosity will bring abundant blessings to you, your family and your work”

The CEHIC trustees are Ven. V. Kusaladhamma Nayake Thera, Rev. Sr. Greta Nalawatta, Prof. Sarath Amunugama and Rev. Fr. Aloysius Peieris s.j.