Teaching how to be independent
At Ape Lamai, we aim for our students to achieve independence by the end of their time with us. We do this by teaching them how to carry out day-to-day activities such as personal care, household activities and gardening.
Educational Program - Day school
At Ape Lamai, we tailor our educational program to each student’s individual ability. We are guided by the curriculum set out by the education department.
Educational Program - Part time students
We provide a part time program for children as young as 3 to young adults aged 24 who cannot attend every day for various reasons. This program socialises the students while they learn new skills in areas such as art, sport, craft and cooking. They attend 1-3 times a week with their carers and mingle with our full-time students.
Vocational training
Ape Lamai provides vocational training for its students when they finish formal schooling. This is generally for students aged between 18 and 24. This includes teaching a trade, training to make handicrafts, commercial cooking and packaging snack foods which they can sell to make an income for themselves in the future.
Hostel
While some children travel to the school daily, others live in the hostel and do not have to commute. Hostel facilities are provided separately for males and females. The Social Services Department of the Western Province provides some maintenance funds for the hostel. There are no set fees that parents are required to pay for the hostel, however parents are expected to provide financial assistance and labour for the day-to-day running of the hostel. We also receive some funding from the public and government and non-government organisations.
Annual Events
Every year we organize a number of events to create greater public awareness and promote a better understanding of people with disabilities. These events include:
▪️ Annual sports meet
▪️ Sinhala & Tamil New Year celebration
▪️ Vesak and Poson celebration
▪️ Public exhibitions
▪️ Annual concert/Christmas celebration
▪️ Parents’ awareness program
▪️ Educational field trips
▪️ Annual traditional thanksgiving offering to mothers (කිරිඅම්මාවරුන්ගේ දානය)
▪️ Annual Independence Day celebration
▪️ Annual Universal Children’s Day celebration
▪️ Annual International Disability Day celebration