The SLFVH carries out several activities to assist the most needy in the association.
These include –

• Free grants for self-employment projects (employment options)
• Student scholarships
• Sarana – A Home for the blind-elderly
• The death assistance scheme – to the family at time of demise

Employment Opportunities

More attention is now being given to securing of open employment for blind youth and the middle aged. There are a number of projects in the Federation to assist in this regard. (see under Vocational Training: and Projects)

University Professor, Lawyer, Teacher, School Principal, Computer Instructor, Cultural Officer, Development Officer, Administrative Assistant, Physiotherapist, Stenographers, Braille Typewriter Repairers, Telephone Operator, Computerised Braille Printer Operators, Stereograph, Printer Operators, Book Binders, Musicians and Vocalists, Composes of Music and Song, Poets, Tea Bagging machine operators, of machines manufacturing shoe accessories, affixing tin and bottle stoppers, office peons, assembling cardboard packaging, choir masters, radio programme producers and announcers, chair weavers, handloom textile weavers, wood craftsmen, newspaper editorial executives, translators, foreign language instructor (one amongst whom speaks six foreign languages) stacking, counting, loading, unloading, fibre rugs and fibre broom makers, manufacturers of soap, joss sticks candles, envelopes, kiosk operators, sweep ticket sellers.

Sarana Home for the Blind Elderly

In 1989 the SLFVH accomplished a long felt need of the visually handicapped community, by reorganising this home at Godawaya, Ambalantota in Hambantota district. It houses around 30 inmates and has generated magnanimous support from the residents in the vicinity. This home is the only institution of its kind for visually handicapped persons and providing board and lodging to helpless and abandoned blind elderly.

Thanks to the generosity of an Australian national, a Swedish Provincial Council, Helpage Sri Lanka, Norad in Colombo and other national benefactors this home has been upgraded with the provision of pipe borne water, bathing facilities, a generator, sick room, worship room and fans.

 

Rotary Eye Clinic

The Rotary Club of Colombo West with funding from the Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Club of Orebro West, Sweden recently donated, to the Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped, a fully equipped Eye Clinic costing over Rs. 2 million.

The Eye Clinic located at the Federation head office at No. 74, Church Street, will cater to only the under privileged and school children.

This Clinic has computerized equipment to test eyes and the Sri Lanka Optometrists Association have kindly consented to operate this Clinic as from December 2002.

At present it is operated once a week with the assistance of Albert Edirisinghe Opticians.

According to the Federation President Mr. E.M. Navarathne Banda they welcome any assistance from Volunteer Eye Specialists to attend the Clinic on a regular basis to examine those with complicated eye ailments so that these patients could then if necessary be directed to Specialist care at Government Eye Hospitals.

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Sri Lanka Federation of the Visually Handicapped
No 74 Church Street,
Colombo 02,
Sri Lanka.