VACD Chairman’s Annual Report to the Boards of Australia, USA & Sri Lanka:
I am delighted to share with you my annual report for 2018/19 to the VACD Australia, USA and Sri Lanka boards. This was also submitted to the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission who are the Australian government’s oversight authority for missions such as ours. Please read this report on the following links:
We are delighted to have made a meaningful difference in the lives of children with disabilities and their families since 27th December 2011 and look forward to intensifying our reach to rural and impoverished communities who need us the most. We are fully aware of the challenges and barriers that we are likely to face in the years ahead and believe that our operating model and the dedication, enthusiasm and commitment of our leadership teams will enable us to achieve our goals and mission with conviction and humility.
My deepest and sincere thanks to all of you who have supported our mission over the past years. I look forward to you continuing to remain with us as our humanitarian and benevolent journey perseveres!!!
Reorganising the VACD Sri Lanka team:
The reconstitution of the VACD Sri Lanka board at the recently concluded AGM with professional, qualified and respected personalities from the local communities was a deliberate strategy because our experiment of having parents of disabled children as directors on the board during the past few years did not produce expected outcomes. Key reasons for these parents not being able to perform to expected standards as directors of the VACD board were that they lacked essential skills and experience to undertake official responsibilities in an organisation such as ours along with their inability to display on-the-job learning aptitudes.
We have realized that parents of disabled children are better suited to serve on VACD committees that are chaired by accomplished VACD directors. Directors will have direct responsibilities to ensure that these committees function appropriately and provide the board with vital ground-level information, input and support. This reorganisation will only strengthen the integrity and efficiency of our VACD operating model illustrated below:
Directors in charge of these VACD Sri Lanka committees:
Education & Training: Mrs. Nandawathie Ranaweera and Mr. Sujeewa Abenayake;
Health & Nutrition: Mr. Sunil De Alwis and Mr. R.M. Abesinghe Bandara;
Sports & Culture: Mr. R.M.D Dayarathna and Mr. Athula Rathnayake;
Family Budgeting & Finances: Mr. Dayarathna Kandambige and Mr. Pathmasiri Weraniyagoda;
Young VACD Members’ Club & New Recruits: Mr. Thushara Serasinghe;
Coordination & Liaison with Foundation of Goodness – Bandarawela: Deshamanya Mr. N.G.R.D Kumarawansa and Mr. Sujeewa Abenayake;
Coordinator Badulla Zone & Director-in-charge of the VACD Badulla centre: Deshamanya Mr. N.G.R.D Kumarawansa
We need your urgent assistance:
There is mounting evidence that children with disabilities from single parent families and impoverished rural communities suffer many hardships and are in desperate need of urgent assistance. We seek your kind support to extend our “Family assistance Program” (FAP) to provide critical relief to more financially distressed families. The Sri Lanka VACD board and committees will administer this program and provide us with regular reports so that we can monitor the impact this extended initiative will have on our children.
The cost of supporting a family will be A$ 25 or equivalent per month and sponsorship donations made in Australia and the USA are tax deductible.
Please share this urgent appeal with your family, friends and colleagues and communicate with Mrs. Yasmin Stephen – Administrative & Communications Secretary on: fstephen@bigpond.net.au should you decide to be a sponsor or are successful in generating family or corporate support. – Thank you.
Congratulations to our VACD athletes on their achievements!!!
Our VACD children from the Bandarawela and Badulla centres once again delivered outstanding performances at the recently concluded Inter-Divisional Disabled Athletic Championships in the Badulla district.
Bandarawela centre: 7 x First, 2 x Second & 3 x Third placings;
Badulla Centre: 1 x first, 4 x second & 5 x Third placings;
Successful athletes will compete at a provincial and then national level later this year.
We encourage our children to participate in music, dancing and sports activities together with special education and skills development that is provided to them at our centres.
Please join us on this benevolent journey:
Please reach out to us at: fstephen@bigpond.net.au and support our initiatives. Please also do share this newsletter with your family, friends, loved ones and colleagues so that together we can make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, one by one!!!
Our sincere thanks to all of you for your continued invaluable support, guidance, counselling and assistance and for being part of this incredible, challenging, immensely rewarding and fulfilling journey.
Many thanks, best wishes and warm regards…. Felix
Felix Stephen
Chairman of the Board of Directors – VACD Ltd. Sydney – Australia – http://www.vacd.org.au/
Member of the Advisory Board – VACD USA – http://www.vacdusa.org/
Member of the Advisory Board – VACD Sri Lanka
Senior Associate – Cognoscenti Group – Sydney – Australia- http://www.cognoscenti.global/
Consultant – Investment Committee – Lonsec – Sydney – Australia – https://www.lonsec.com.au/
Member of Investment Committee – Arrive Wealth Management – Brisbane – Australia – http://brisbane.arrivewealthmanagement.com.au/
Consultant – Global Financial Market Investment Research & Investment Strategy
E-mail: felixswstephen@gmail.com / fstephen@bigpond.net.au