“I do it my way” an evening to showcase the talents of the differently abled Girl Guides, will bring together different ethnic groups and religions, from various parts of the island. They will comprise those who are visually and hearing impaired, slow learners, those who are Autistic, have Downs Syndrome etc. The branch for the Handicapped ( later changed to the Branch for the Differently Abled) was initiated in Sri Lanka in 1924.  Its  aim is to expand the activities of Girl Guides, include those with physical and mental impediments, thereby allowing them better access to equal opportunities.

 

This year’s concert I DO IT MY WAY, will be  providing financial assistance to launch and celebrate a  very important milestone, 100 years of serving these children. 

We spoke to Nirmali Sylvia Wijekoon, Commissioner of the Differently 

Abled branch of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association. 

 

The name of the concert is “ I DO IT MY WAY”  and it will be held on the 8th of October 2023 to commemorate International Children’s Day  at the  Oak Room ,Cinnamon Grand Hotel Colombo. 

This talent show is performed by the differently abled children island-wide. We are looking forward to bringing them all on one stage i.e. those from  different ethnic groups  and  to have a public performance to make the public aware of the importance and abilities of these children.

This is to ensure that they will be eligible for job opportunities  and to build confidence in these children by performing in public. 

The concert will have Sinhalese, English and Tamil songs and dances 

which will be performed individually and 

as a group.  

To increase public awareness on the talents of the differently abled Girl Guides and build their confidence. Also we hope to empower them and show the audience the talents of these very special children. The aim of including these children in the Girl Guides movement, is to enable them to achieve  their fullest potential to live independently, to provide them with equal opportunities, to integrate with main stream society.

The Girl Guide teachers will be training them to perform. 

It has enabled them to build up confidence in themselves and explore and identify their hidden talents. 

These children should be treated with empathy and not with sympathy. Society tends to neglect them whilst we the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association is trying to uplift their  lives and also to give them recognition.  As the audience will be of different levels of people from corporate sectors etc they will realise and see  for themselves, the talents in these girls.