The A2 Charities Weekend is one of the highlights of the Bryanston calendar. Current Heads of School, Aoife L and Drummond B, are currently organising an array of activities for 2025’s A2 Charities Weekend (1-2 March) to raise money for their chosen charities.
As we look forward to that weekend, we’re pleased to share an update on where some of the money raised last year has made a real difference. Libby S and Kieran B, OBs and former Heads of School, chose to support two charities in Sri Lanka – Ayati, the only centre in Sri Lanka supporting children with disabilities, and Child Action Lanka, an organisation which provides after school education and food to children in nine locations throughout Sri Lanka.
With Doc Fearnley, Head of Charities, and Mr Fowler-Watt having visited these charities in April 2023, Libby and Kieran knew how meaningful their fundraising would be. Maddie Benson, last year’s Deputy Head of School and Prefect Harry Bachra are currently in Sri Lanka and have been volunteering at Ayati and Child Action Lanka for the last two months.
Child Action Lanka
Assisting daily in Child Action Lanka (CAL)’s after school club in the capital, Maddie commented: “The Pre-School space in Colombo consists of two small storage containers on top of each other and whilst they are doing amazing things for the children, their lack of facilities is heartbreaking. It has been truly eye opening to see how little the children have and our donations have made a huge difference.”
Money raised for CAL has provided shoes and school bags for many children in addition to the first cricket practice net in Akkarayan, a war-affected area and a rural village in the Kilinochchi district. Despite the community’s enthusiasm for sports, especially cricket, the village has lacked the proper infrastructure to support the development of young athletes. Children and youth in Akkarayan have always had a keen interest in cricket, yet they have not had access to formal practice areas or proper equipment to refine their skills. The Manager of the Child Development Centre, commented: “With the generous contribution from Bryanston School, the village’s first common cricket practice net is a significant step towards empowering our children and guiding them toward a brighter future.”
Ayati
Maddie and Harry have also been volunteering at Ayati, the only centre in the country to provide multi disciplinary services, therapies and treatment for disabled children. Ayati is a charitable organisation and all services are provided free of charge. Children born with a condition of cerebral palsy often have mobility issues and they require the support of special devices/shoes to help them move around. The Chairperson of Ayati, Professor Nilanthi De Silva, commented: “Thanks to the generosity of Bryanston parents, children and staff, we now have our own Prosthetic and Orthotic unit to carry out the initial stages of casting supportive devices. It is with great joy that this became a reality on 16 December 2024 and we thank Madeleine and Harry from Bryanston along with Kumar and Yehali Sangakkara, for gracing the formal opening of the Ayati P&O Unit.”
Doc Fearnley, Head of Charities, commented: “It is wonderful that our pupils have been able to spend time with the charities we are supporting and we hope that this term’s A2 Charities Weekend will result in the same success, both for our pupils and the charities we support.”
