Niluka Kalyani

The MJF Centre in Moratuwa is a place filled with the merriment of children but also their temper tantrums, screams and cries. This facility welcomes hundreds of people who come from the most vulnerable backgrounds of society - and that includes children with different disabilities who have been left behind with no hope.

At the MJF Rainbow Centre, we make sure that no one is denied access to opportunities. With therapy & activities, I train them to accomplish little things that most of us take for granted in our daily lives. Over the years, I have seen lives being transformed
thanks to what we do as a team of devoted teachers. We have a Rainbow Choir who sings the National Anthem in Sign Language. When
Dennis, a 12-year-old young boy with CP came to me, he was beyond his parents’ control. Now, at 16, Dennis enthusiastically takes part in Singing Competitions, Sports and learns IT at the Curtiss Institute. I come to work every day with the hope of doing the best I can to integrate these children into society and raise them to be as independent as possible as they transition themselves into adulthood.

On a regular day, I dedicate almost 10 hours to my job while working two shifts. Currently, I work as an External Resource Teacher at the MJF Rainbow Centre for children who are 6,7,12 years of age who have severe cases of Autism Spectrum and Cerebral Palsy. It is a profession that demands a lot of patience and strength to deal with their aggression & frustration. I often return home with a ripped Saree, messy hair bun and scars on my hand. Getting through the day with children with disabilities can be overwhelming, but I find my job extremely rewarding. Whenever I feel like giving up, I tell myself that every extra step I take is a step closer towards a world where a child with a disability can live his or her best possible life. God had a different path for me and that was to help make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities and their families. Thank you, Merrill J. Fernando, for making ways for inclusiveness and equality and trusting us to be the guiding light towards the change you want to see in our society.

Thank you, Merrill J. Fernando, for making ways for inclusiveness and equality and trusting us to be the guiding light towards the change you want to see in our society.