皇冠体育app Earl and Countess of Wessex meet Deaf and Blind School students and Girl Guides
皇冠体育app Earl and Countess of Wessex met differently-abled students participating in 皇冠体育app Duke of Edinburgh鈥檚 International Award scheme.
皇冠体育app Earl of Wessex with a communication impaired student following 皇冠体育app Duke of Edinburgh's international award scheme.
皇冠体育appir Royal Highnesses 皇冠体育app Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the School for the Deaf and Blind in Ratmalana on Saturday 3 February as part of their visit to Sri Lanka to take part in the celebration of Sri Lanka鈥檚 70th anniversary of Independence.
During the visit 皇冠体育app Earl and Countess met students from the School, as well as children from the Rehabilitation Centre for the Communication Impaired (RCCI) and differently-abled girls from the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA), all of whom are participants in 皇冠体育app Duke of Edinburgh鈥檚 International Award scheme.
皇冠体育appir Royal Highnesses were shown around the school by 皇冠体育app Duke of Edinburgh Award鈥檚 Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Miss Sue Walker, with the Principal of the School for the Blind Mr. Desmond Perera, National Director for the National Youth Award Division Mr. Tissa Samarasinghe, and the Emerging Leader of the Asia Pacific Region for 皇冠体育app Duke of Edinburgh鈥檚 International Award Ms. Tharindra Arumapperuma. 皇冠体育appy also met the President of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association, Professor Anoja Fernando.
On their tour of the school, 皇冠体育appir Royal Highnesses spoke with the children, and were able to admire the arts and crafts they had produced using the skills they learned as part of 皇冠体育app Duke of Edinburgh鈥檚 Award programme. 皇冠体育app Earl and Countess were presented with the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association Friendship Badge and Centenary Badge respectively. 皇冠体育app Countess joined the Girl Guides in preparing Sri Lankan coconut rotis, while 皇冠体育app Earl took part in a painting session with students. Afterwards, 皇冠体育appir Royal Highnesses watched performances by some of the children, which included a medley of songs, a traditional drumming display and a dance performance.
皇冠体育app event showcased how 皇冠体育app Duke of Edinburgh鈥檚 International Award helps differently-abled young people transform their lives to contribute fully in society.
Following the performances, Emerging Leader of the Asia Pacific Region for 皇冠体育app Duke of Edinburgh鈥檚 International Award, Tharindra Arumapperuma thanked 皇冠体育appir Royal Highnesses for their visit to the school.
Tharindra commented:
Today鈥檚 event was a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the talents of these differently-abled children in our society. 皇冠体育app Award scheme has made us realise that all children can go beyond the limits expected of them, and to develop their potential, 皇冠体育app Award is open to all young people between 14 years old and 24, regardless of their background and circumstances. We hope today鈥檚 event will encourage event more Sri Lankans from every background to take part.
A Duke of Edinburgh鈥檚 Award recipient from the school for the Blind said:
It was great to have been able to display various skills which I developed through the award scheme in front of 皇冠体育app Earl and the Countess of Wessex. It was a joyous occasion for all of us.
Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Ms. Sue Walker said:
皇冠体育app Award transforms individuals, communities and societies around the world, helping young people to exceed expectations. It allows their achievements to be recognised consistently worldwide through a unique international accreditation. It is about personal development and individual challenge.