Dear friends, colleagues, supporters, and collaborative partners,
Greetings to you, your families, loved ones, and colleagues from all of us at VACD.
Challenges faced by Sri Lankan Families:
Unprecedented and endless hardships are being faced by less fortunate communities in Sri Lanka. We have intensified our efforts to devote extra resources to ease these difficulties encountered by our children with disabilities and their families. Persistent shortages of fuel, the rapid rise in the cost of basic household food items together with the non-availability of critical prescription medication is causing immense distress to these children and their families. Please uphold these unfortunate and vulnerable people in your thoughts and prayers and please support our family assistance initiative (FAP), below. Thank you.
Notes: Despite these challenges, our two existing centres continue to function well thanks to our leadership team. The new Welimada centre will be established as soon as practicable.
VACD’s Family Assistance Program (FAP):
VACD’s FAP initiative addresses financial hardships encountered by subsistence farmers, low-skilled, low-income, daily wage earners, and single parent households. It is designed to help families, particularly mothers, supplement their household finances while eking out a living and caring for their disabled child. There has been a sharp increase in the number of households requesting our help due to ongoing challenges in the country. We appeal to your compassionate generosity to help us extend this program to more disadvantaged families. The monthly donation we seek from you is A$ 25 or its equivalent per family. Please reach out to us on fstephen@bigpond.net.au should you be in a position to help. Thank you.
Traditional Sinhala/Tamil New Year celebrations:
VACD Sri Lanka held their traditional annual April new year 2022 celebrations in late April (Low-key) when it was deemed safe and convenient for our children and their families. Celebrations were held at the Sir Robert Clark centre in Bandarawela on Wednesday, 7th April followed by the Dora Jeanne centre in Badulla that same weekend.
Photos from our Sir Robert Clark Centre – Bandarawela:
Photos from our Dora Jeanne Centre – Badulla:
Sponsors and Collaborative Partner News:
Teardrop Hotels:
Latest news and special offers from our collaborative partners Teardrop Hotels can be found on the following hyperlink: https://mailchi.mp/96ae6f2e1dd1/stimulate-your-mind-body-and-soul-with-teardrop-hotels-11340598 and https://www.teardrop-hotels.com/
VACD’s Projects & Programs for 2022/23
Please visit our VACD Webpage to find features of our projects and programs for 2022/23 via the hyperlink: https://www.vacd.org.au/ongoing-projects/
This information is also available on the Good Company donation webpage via the hyperlink:
https://www.goodcompany.com.au/au/charities?i[0]=charitygifts-v2&q=vacd , (type VACD in the search bar) and the Benevity Causes Donation Portal: https://mygoodness.benevity.org/community/search?query=vacd&country=036
Multiple donation options to support our mission – Thank you:
The following hyperlink will enable you to find all donation options that are available to you on our webpage: https://www.vacd.org.au/donate/
Multicurrency Benevity Causes Portal for International Donations:
International donors who wish to support our mission can do so through the Benevity Causes portal via the hyperlink below for all your multi-currency donation options:
https://mygoodness.benevity.org/community/search?query=vacd&country=036
Donations by Australian taxpayers are tax deductible. Australian donors/ tax payers who wish to make your regular annual tax efficient 2021/22 fiscal year donations or ad hoc tax efficient donations to our mission can do so by using any of the donation options found on our webpage: https://www.vacd.org.au/donate/
A big “Thank You” to all of you…
Our journey is bound to be long and challenging. The official and unofficial number of children and families who need our love, support, compassion, and care are sizeable. We look forward to your continued generosity, active support for our undertaking and you being partners with us in this most fulfilling and noble 10+ year journey that we traverse together.
Please visit us at: https://www.vacd.org.au/ and reach out to us at: fstephen@bigpond.net.au should you choose to support our mission. Please also do share this newsletter with your family, friends, loved ones and work colleagues. We can make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, one by one!!!
Many thanks, best wishes, and warmest regards…. Felix
Felix Stephen
Chairman of the Board of Directors – VACD Ltd. Sydney – Australia – https://www.vacd.org.au/
Member of the Advisory Board – VACD Sri Lanka
Member of the Advisory Board – Two leaves Foundation Sri Lanka
Senior Associate – Cognoscenti Group – Sydney – Australia- http://www.cognoscenti.global/
Member of Investment Committee – Arrive Wealth Management – Brisbane – Australia – https://www.arrivewealthmanagement.com.au/