By Kshalini Nonis
The CFS Prithipura Home is home to 57 differently abled residents who have found a safe and secure environment for the special care they need due to various reasons. We had a chat with Devika Anthonisz, President, about the home as well as some of their pressing needs.
Q Can you tell us briefly about the CFS Prithipura Home?
The CFS Prithipura Home was set up more than 60 years ago in a 3 ½ acre plot of land along the beach road of Wattala with the objective of providing a residential facility for mentally and physically challenged children from under- privileged backgrounds.
Initially there had been four residents who lived in a thatched cottage. Currently there are 57 residents who live in solidly built cottages with all modern conveniences.
The staff consists of a matron, assistant matron and an administration officer, House mothers – two per cottage, kitchen staff, driver and security guard.
The Honorary Executive Committee of the Ceylon Fellowship of Service is in overall charge of running the Home.
Q How many residents do you have and what is the criteria to get into the home?
Currently there are 57 residents. Sadly four passed away this year, they were all over 60 years of age.
The criteria to get into the home is that they have to have some form of disability.
Q can you tell us what their most pressing needs are?
Our residents are all disabled in some form or the other. Their pressing needs are good nutrition, medical attention when sick, and activities that bring out their innate skills if any, to lead a bright and productive life.
On average our monthly expenses amount to Rs 1.7 million and over at times. This includes staff salaries, EPF, ETF, food items, vehicle running expenses, utility bills, medical expenses, attendant’s fees when residents are hospitalised and maintenance of the property
Q What are the activities you provide for the residents?
Most of the residents attend our Activity Centre from Monday to Friday dressed in uniform attending school as it were, where two dedicated teachers engage them in art, crafts, singing, dancing, writing and cookery classes according to their interests and capabilities. They also watch carefully chosen movies and programmes on TV at times.
Q What about the other needs of the residents such as counselling, physiotherapy and speech therapy?
The volunteer group Sumithrayo, Negombo branch provides their services and have been visiting our Home periodically to have “befriending” sessions with the residents and staff. The staff who are in residence and are on call 24/7 also do have some counselling sessions with the Sumithrayo volunteers.
Residents attend the government psychiatric clinics and are seen by specialist doctors when necessary.
We have a qualified Physiotherapist who visits once a week.
Unfortunately we have been unable to find a suitable speech therapist since the exodus of trained personnel after the economic crisis.
Q Can you tell us how you manage the expenses of the home – does the state sponsor even a small part of it?
The expenses of the Home are managed mainly through the generosity of the public who sponsor the daily meals by offering “dhana” with cooked food or with a payment. Ad hoc donations from here and abroad also help to balance our budget. We do receive state sponsorship from the Dept of Social Welfare and Samudhri, but this is minimal.
We hold a fund raising sale/exhibition annually to collect additional funds; this includes a raffle draw.
The residents and staff create most of the items that are on sale at the fundraiser.
In recent years we have had to fall back on our investments and the interest earned to bridge our deficit of expenditure against income.
Q What are your monthly expenses and how can those interested in helping contribute?
On average our monthly expenses amount to Rs 1.7 million and over at times. This includes staff salaries, EPF, ETF, food items, vehicle running expenses, utility bills, medical expenses, attendant’s fees when residents are hospitalised and maintenance of the property.
Interested parties can help by donating dry rations, booking dhana, helping with building maintenance and volunteering their services. In spite of ever increasing prices we strive to give our residents a balanced diet daily.
Q Does the home have other needs and if so what are they?
A dire need is attracting younger members to our Fellowship who could contribute their knowledge and expertise to enable the home to run progressively and in a sustainable manner.
Q Finally can you tell us how you provide a home away from home for those who have no homes or have been rejected by their families?
The CFS Prithipura Home has been planned on the “cottage” concept. The residents are housed in 7 cottages; 4 for the males and 3 for the females. Each cottage is looked after by two “house-mothers” who reside within the cottage with their own rooms and toilet facilities. The main area of each cottage is a dormitory with a bed for each resident. There is a dining area with a table and benches for their meals.
Each cottage has a TV with internet. A well-equipped bathroom/ toilet facility is available in each cottage with hot water and grab-bars. Each cottage has an automatic washing machine.
The residents have been trained to attend to their personal needs as much as possible and to assist those who need help. They live in the same cottage while at Prithipura which they treat as ‘home’, and their House mothers as surrogate mums and are referred to as “akkas".
The cooking is done in a separately located kitchen area.
Evenings and free time are spent in the garden which is equipped with swings and other playground equipment. Gardening is also encouraged with vegetable plots to those interested.
The sale will be held on Wednesday, November 26. The venue for the sale is the Lionel Wendt.We will have a wide variety of items for sale including Christmas decorations, embroidered household and table linen, spices, jewellery, Phoenix household items, food and stationery
The Annual Sale
Q When and where will the annual sale be held this year?
The sale will be held on Wednesday, November 26. The venue for the sale is the Lionel Wendt. We are very grateful that they give it to us free of charge.
Q What are the main items that will be on sale?
We will have a wide variety of items for sale including Christmas decorations, embroidered household and table linen, spices, jewellery, Phoenix household items, food and stationery. The residents of the Home have been busy over the past few months making bags, Christmas decorations, dusters, oven gloves, serviettes and jug covers.
Q Will there be a raffle draw as well and what are some of the prizes?
We will have a raffle draw on the day of the sale. Prizes include a pendant from Mallika Hemachandra, a painting by Ismeth Raheem, a weekend for two at Aditya, gift voucher from Jagro, Paan Paan and Paradise Road, prints by Anoma Wijewardene, a dinner for two by Table by Nyne, a hamper from Park Street Gourmet, electrical items and many more.
Q Who are the sponsors?
We don’t have sponsors but organisations and people have donated the raffle prizes
Q How can the community help to make the sale a success?
Please come to the sale, buy the products especially those made at the Home and buy lots of raffle tickets. Donations of cash are also very welcome.
