Young voices for a cause

Ruwini Jayawardana

They say talent knows no boundaries. It also has no ethnic, regional or religious barriers. When a group of enterprising, resourceful and goal-oriented individuals meet and work together there is an entrancing feel all around.

These few lines are hardly enough to sum up the atmosphere at Global Towers Hotel, Colombo, when Leonard Cheshire Disability Resource Centre (LCDRC), Sri Lanka, joined hands of young people with disabilities from four nations: Malaysia, Philippines, India and Sri Lanka. Aimed at bringing out their capacity on themes like leadership, national and international legislation on disability, communication skills and presentation the workshop provided a platform in which each person was able to project their views and emotions to the world.

It was an event put together by ‘Young Voices’, a project launched by the organization in shedding light on youth talent. At first go you would hardly note that these youth can be categorized as people with disabilities. Their enthusiasm and energy takes you by force as they listen, talk and grasp the facts related to them by those who conduct the workshop. Inquisitive and always on alert, they do not shy from the limelight and are quick to clarify any questions which arise in their minds.

The message is clear: they do not seek pity or charity. They look for respect and understanding. They wish to be treated as equals rather than a burden or a marginalized group in society. Just because they find it a bit difficult to move around, problems in vision or speech it does not mean that they are objects of pity. They brim with youth and all the features associated with the age group.

Opening the floors of the workshop were the Advocacy and campaigning Manager of Sri Lanka LCDRC Ali Zakky with LCD UK’s International Policy and Learning Manager Sunanda Mavillapalli. Then onto an introduction a round up program in which the participants unveiled interesting tit bits about themselves. That too was not introduced in a traditional way but after an activity in which each member had to choose a partner and hold a pow wow with each other and introduce their friend to the rest of the members of the workshop.

A refreshing change indeed and a sure sign that this is not your everyday kind of workshop which runs on for a couple of days, leaving the details as a hazy memory in the participant’s minds.

The four-day program exposed many useful details on film-making, creative writing, broadcasting and communication skills to the participants. Four short films are expected as output by the 11 Young Voices group members working along with their five Young Voices Coordinators. They are also requested to make four audio broadcasts to be aired on You Tube and websites. Appearance on television and radio too are on the cards.

The events were conducted by national and international personalities related to media and filmmaker and editor Nina Subramani, Sooriyan FM consultant C. Nadrajasivam, Broadcaster Arun Dias Bandaranaike, technical producer and DTS trainer Pirithviraj Pavithran, Daily News Features joint Editor K.S. Sivakumaran and ABC Radio News Manager Ajith Gamage.

About LCDRC

Established in Sri Lanka in 2005 the LCDRC’s prime goal was to support the disabled personalities who were affected by the 2004 tsunami. Located in the Colombo, Trincomalee and Galle regions the centers focus on topics such as education, livelihood, health and rehabilitation and support that are a part of their everyday lifestyle.

They have reached out to around 5000 disabled people across the island and have played an active role in instilling equality, dignity and justice towards the differently abled group in society.

Operating under the Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry LCDRC is a non-profitable social service organization with the vision of creating an inclusive, barrier free and rights based society for and with differently abled people.

Incepted in UK the organization is widespread and functions in 52 countries around the world.