Child Perspective

We will abide by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as a given and basic implementation.  Further still, our research and the Board’s personal feelings are that children need more than just their basic rights met.  Our aim is to nurture these children from the ‘human’ perspective and in this, we believe we understand a child’s complete needs.  Outlined below is what we mean by this:

An Atmosphere of Trust & Love

To support these conditions, we will select our staff carefully, ensure staff turnover is kept minimal, to minimise disruptions to their home environment.  They will all be trained to a high level (site, off-site and OU style learning).  We will also encourage a broad base of older, more experienced members of the local community to help on a volunteer basis; where the motivation is purely altruistic.  The on-going interest from the donors and charity organisers will also encourage this atmosphere and regular contact will also be supported.

Inclusion

We believe it is important that the children do not lose touch with their wider community and vice versa.  There will be an inclusive atmosphere at Serendip Children’s Home, where resources are shared with the wider community.  Equally, the children will be encouraged to involve themselves through ‘care in the community’ programs.  Ultimately, we want to strengthen community ties over this project.  We want the girls to feel a sense of belonging within the home environment primarily; they will know that we see their needs individually and they will continue to have our support into adulthood. 

Validation

Validation begins with highly attuned attention.   Through praise, recognition, appreciation, hugs, pats on the back, and so forth, a child comes to feel as though his or her feelings truly matter within the home.   There will also be more formal organised prizes and reward schemes; but ultimately, every child is recognised.

Structure

Our girls will experience age-appropriate, continually expanding boundaries as they mature.  Non-oppressive, sometimes negotiable (where appropriate) limits are enforced with compassionate discipline, the ultimate goal being to teach children the arts of self-discipline and self-motivation.  They will have a clear grounding in a structured environment, reflective of the wider world they will one day embrace as adults.

Understanding

A child gains emotional security from knowing that she can make mistakes (even the mistake of behaving badly) without being shamed or degraded with excessive anger or harsh punishment. In this type of nurturing system, carers understand that mistakes are an integral part of the learning process, and that children learn life's lessons more fully when they are guided with an "empathetic hand."  This understanding must exist from the offset.

Healthy Role Models

Our carers will be the main role models for these girls.  It is therefore vitally important they are prepared to undertake this with the sincerity and wholeheartedness demanded.  The secondary layers of management and Board also have a responsibility to recognise that this is our mantle also.  There must be consistent carer examples of emotional wholeness and must show our children the way toward balance in life by modelling such things as emotional generosity toward others, calm and effective problem-solving skills (particularly in our dealings with them), healthy coping strategies in regard to our own daily stresses, and the ability to set goals and sustain our efforts in achieving them. For better or worse, our ‘parental’ behaviour is the most powerful life teacher for our children.

A secondary role model will also be their sponsors.  To this end, we hope to encourage, where practicable, these relationships and particularly on the part of the sponsor, to play a definitive role in their child’s life.

Challenge

Serendip will provide age-appropriate incentives for a child to learn life's emotional and practical lessons at each developmental stage. In order to bolster our children's ability to problem-solve and achieve their goals, their minds need to be stimulated by learning new skills and overcoming obstacles. Our carers will offer our children a wide variety of subject matter to explore, our use of encouragement and praise is key in sustaining their desire to master their world.  A full program of learning will be implemented and supported with necessary resources made available.

There will be opportunities to travel around Sri Lanka; to discover their land, to make connections with different communities, to commune with nature.  We hope to encourage exchange programs too for the girls; to give them an opportunity to see the world and how other children in other countries experience childhood. 

Facilities

The girls will have access to a wide range of facilities such as adequate shared sleeping areas, communal eating areas, silent study areas, communal living room, ample washing / toilet facilities, and exercise field, garden.  They will be housed in a newly built, modern building.   As well as school enrolment, they will have the opportunity to take part in organized activities within the home environment (sports, drama, arts, music).  All necessary equipment will be made available to them.  We have also secured a donation of 25 computers to support the girls in their ambitions for independence in the modern world.  It will also help them keep in touch with their donors and friends.