Dear friends, colleagues, supporters, and collaborative partners,
Happy New Year 2025 and the very best to you, your families and loved ones throughout this year and over the coming years from all of us at VACD Australia and Sri Lanka.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Christmas and end of 2024 celebrations at VACD Sri Lanka.
Our VACD Centres in Bandarawela, Badulla and Ambagasdowa celebrated some significant days as seen in the photographs below:
VACD Bandarawela:




VACD Badulla: (Sponsored by the Fendler Family)






The Badulla event was organised and sponsored by the Lions Club of Uva Wellassa and the Leo Club of Sri Lanka Technological Campus. The Lions and Leos Clubs have been supporters of our Badulla center for many years.
VACD Ambagasdowa: (Sponsored by Teardrop Hotels)




VACD’s Projects, Programs and Planned Activities in the Uva Province for 2025
- Continuation and expansion of our Education Assistance and Family Assistance Programs.
- Continuation and enhancements to our Nutrition Program.
- Provide travel and medical assistance to children from impoverished and financially stressed households.
- Facilitate the purchase of prescribed medication for VACD children.
- Conduct regular health clinics for children in the Uva province.
- Conduct regular leadership, vocational, computer, Excel/Word, motivational & other skills training programs for VACD children, their parents and siblings
- Provide training, equipment and supplies to implement income generating activities and projects for older VACD children attending our centres.
- Implement household income generating programs for VACD families.
- Provide regular specialist training for all our teaching staff.
- Provide equipment for physical training, sports, exercise, recreation, art, craft, painting, dance, music, singing etc. for VACD children.
- The introduction of “Early identification and early intervention for children with developmental delays/disabilities” and a comprehensive “Early Childhood Supported Playgroup Program” for children identified with developmental concerns across the entire Uva province. Project details to follow in our next publication.
Supplementary Notes:
- Children with disabilities are gifted individuals with exceptional talents and skills. These special gifts need to be identified and encouraged so that they can live productive and fulfilling lives and be accepted as equals within their local communities.
- Recently updated estimate of children registered with VACD in the infant to 18+ age group as at the end of 2024 was approximately 350+
- The number of participants at our regular free health clinics facilitated by MJF Charitable Foundation https://www.mjffoundation.org/ continues to increase significantly.
Regular updates on our VACD Facebook Page:
Ms Aloyna (Pinky) Taylor, VACD’s Head of Digital Communication, posts regular news and updates on a range of VACD activities on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vacdlk.
Australian Dollar Donations via Direct Bank Transfers:
Name of Account: Volunteers to Assist Children with Disabilities Limited
Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Liverpool & Castlereagh Streets Branch,
Cnr of Liverpool & Castlereagh Streets, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Account No: 1130 2156 BSB: 062-016 BIC/SWIFT Code: CTBAAU2S
Sri Lanka Rupee Donations via Direct Bank Transfers:
Name of Account: Volunteers to Assist Children with Disabilities Private Limited
Bank: Seylan Bank, 240, Badulla Road, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka
Account Number: 046035439722001
Note: Please send an email to: fstephen@bigpond.net.au ensuring that your name and email address are mentioned when making direct bank transfers. Thank you
International Multicurrency 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
The full list of all your donation options:
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/
A big “Thank You” to all of you from all of us at VACD and children with disabilities and their families in the region
Our journey is bound to be long and challenging. The official and unofficial number of children and their families who need our love, support, compassion, and care are sizeable and increasing steadily. We look forward to your continued generosity, active support for our undertaking and your partnership with us in this most fulfilling and worthwhile 13+ 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 share this newsletter with your network so that together we certainly can make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, one by one!!!
Many thanks for your continued support, 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/