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CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES
The MJF Foundation has a core theme of disability. Its commitment includes not only providing programs and therapeutic services to people with disabilities, but also working to ensure that they are effective citizens of Sri Lanka and its economy, as well as advocating for other people with disabilities.
The Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy and Other Developmental Disorders (CCCPDD)
The CCCPDD is located in Kalapaluwawa, Rajagiriya, and serves as a separate centre of excellence and learning for individuals with special needs. It provides education, therapy, and training for those living with CP and other developmental disorders and for their caretakers to promote, maintain, and restore independence in activities of daily living
Supporting 3500 + differently abled children
with therapy and education
disABILITY YouTube Channel & App - disABILITY - Sri Lanka’s only trilingual channel on disability
Leaving no one behind! The MJF Foundation switched to tele-therapy and tele-education within the first week of the 2020 lockdown, to prevent an interruption in services to our children. We have expanded our services beyond the centres to the most remote parts of Sri Lanka. The MJF Charitable Foundation and MillenniumIT ESP, with partners Microsoft, Sarva and World Vision Lanka, launched the disABILITY App.
The channel will share information and provide access to therapy and practical guidance for the care of children with disabilities while supporting families, caregivers, and medical practitioners in rural Sri Lanka and South India.
AIDEX
Aid-to the Ex-Abled is an annual Sports Festival and a perfect platform for the differently abled to realise their dreams and have some fun!
Sports day for kids with special needs in the East
Barriers came down for these young athletes from the Dilmah MJF Centre-East! At their first sports meet for children with special needs, every child with Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities got the opportunity to play together and enjoy sport in the company of friends and parents. We believe that a disability should never act as a barrier to participation.
- Harshini Kumari Pathiraja
National Database on Cerebral Palsy
Setting up SL’s first database on people with developmental disorders
Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando and the cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara collaborated to promote Sri Lanka’s first database on persons with CP, as part of a strategic plan to enhance the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and autism, and to educate Sri Lanka to overcome the stigma associated with different abilities aimed at facilitating effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of a national strategy aimed at building the capacity of children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families, taking their individual needs into account.
Wheelchair Distribution
NCCCPDD has distributed more than 2,400 pediatric wheelchairs at district camps and the centers and gets regular referrals from hospitals. The multidisciplinary team at the MJF Foundation has supported Around the Pearl—a 1400km life-changing cycle journey which raises funds for wheelchairs for children with cerebral palsy—by organising and conducting screening and distribution camps for more than 2400 families with children with disabilities.
Advocacy through Dolls
To draw attention to the needs of children with disabilities, the Women’s Development Programme of Moratuwa launched a series of advocacy dolls, - highlighting the needs and differences of people with disabilities.
We met Sayul during his class at the MJF Rainbow Centre. Just like any 8-year old, he is a cheerful, energetic kid full of joy. But Sayul has Autism. He has behavioural issues that can make life challenge for him.This is his second year at MJF Rainbow Centre. Thanks to therapy and support, Sayul can now colour within lines, solve puzzles and engage in activities like yoga & gardening with his friends.
