P. Sathini Sandeepa Imashani is an 11-year-old Sri Lankan whose life has been a constant struggle in a world not designed for her. Sathini was diagnosed with hemiplegia as an infant, a type of unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) that causes paralysis on one side of the body.
For almost all her life, she has dealt with weakness, paralysis, and challenges with her coordination and motor skills. Yet, despite these dreadful obstacles, Sathini has not allowed her condition to define her. Instead, she has embraced a spirit of resilience, determination, and unwavering courage.
This admirable spirit is credited to Sathini and her family’s support from the Kandy-based Women’s Development Centre (WDC). A partner of RYTHM Foundation in Sri Lanka, the NGO empowers disadvantaged families, the differently-abled, and other marginalised groups through various forms of aid.
Sathini receives therapy and treatment at a WDC-managed Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme (CBR) centre. RYTHM has aided in setting up 11 CBR centres nationwide alongside ongoing support for various skills development and economic empowerment programmes.
The hope for a better life for Sathini began when her parents registered her at the Haragama Village CBR centre when she was 18 months old.
Sathini’s parents initially worried about how to get her the long-term rehabilitation she needed. They were, however, relieved when the centre’s social workers offered help.
“We started Sathini on specialised physical therapy to enhance her mobility and develop her skills in daily tasks,” a centre spokesperson notes.
“We are fortunate we got Sathini started on rehabilitation at a young age. Otherwise, her movement problems would have worsened over time.”
the differently-abled, and other marginalised groups.
The Education of Sathini
Although a cure for CP is still elusive, life for Sathini a decade later has blossomed into something more extraordinary, filled with triumphs and boundless possibilities.
In 2017, defying the odds that confine countless disadvantaged and disabled children, the bright girl stepped through the doors of the Unuwinna Inclusive Primary School to begin her educational journey.
However, life as a student initially posed some challenges for Sathini. The classes she needed to attend were predominantly held on the upper floor of the school building, posing a challenge to her new experience.
The CBR centre’s efforts prevailed again; accommodations were made to relocate Sathini’s classes to the ground level. The volunteers also conducted several awareness programmes in the school to foster a more inclusive and understanding environment.
Our aid to marginalised individuals like Sathini mirrors several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of targets for all countries to end poverty and other deprivations. For example, our support in Sri Lanka contributes to SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
However, in an increasingly unequal and unsustainable world, we often go beyond these goals and our primary focus areas of Education, Empowerment, and the Environment to ensure the sustainability of our adopted communities.
With an unshakable support system behind her, RYTHM and the WDC are determined to ensure that the rehabilitation and education of Sathini – and that of other disadvantaged individuals like her – continue to help her develop the skills and knowledge necessary for an independent and fulfilling life.
