Our students range in age from 4 to 44 years and have varying degrees of physical and intellectual disabilities. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we provided our services to over 40 full time students and a further 10 part time students. Currently we have 31 registered students, of whom 24 regularly attend school. The RCCI serves those who need very specialized care, including some who need one-to-one attention at all times.
We provide our services to those in need regardless of their financial resources. Our service users represent a wide cross section society but skew heavily towards those with the most challenging socio-economic circumstances. One third of our students attend the RCCI free of charge, while others contribute what they can. Following Sri Lanka’s financial crisis of 2022, the RCCI also supports low income households with travel bursaries to cover increased costs of transportation and through the organization of dry rations donations to families most in need.
Kamal#
Kamal is 5 years old and has physical and intellectual disabilities due to brain injuries sustained when his mother, a sex worker, attempted to drown him as an infant. He was placed in foster care by the authorities and is being fostered by elderly neighbours. His foster mother was recently diagnosed with cancer and is struggling to care for him due to illness, as well as advancing age. Apart from providing schooling for free, we support the family with a transport bursary so that Kamal can attend school, allowing his foster father to continue his work as a day labourer to support the family. Kamal continues to have seizures due to his head injuries and has significant medical needs and periods of regression.
Ishan*
Ishan is 19 years old and has Cerebral palsy. He has both mobility and speech issues, but he is very interested in his schoolwork and interacts well with classmates. His favourite activity is riding his bicycle around his neighbourhood. He is a curious young person and is interested in everything that is happening around him. He is always eager to assist his teachers and very helpful and encouraging towards his classmates. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, his parents were very supportive of his education and vocational training.
He lives with his father and mother in Battaramulla. His father is a tuk tuk driver. His mother worked from time to time but focused on the children. A severe diabetic, she had to have her leg amputated due to an infection in 2020 and the family struggled to adjust to their new circumstances. She passed away from complications due to COVID-19 in 2021 and the family has been unable to send Ishan to school ever since. We remain in touch and hope to work with him again in the near future.