Ranji & Chris Stubbs founded MENCAFEP on the 25 January 1988, with 6 children and their families. With help from three young women from an unemployed women’s group, that Ranji and Chris were running at time, in a village outside Nuwara Eliya Town. |
During community work with the unemployed women’s group, it was discovered that in the whole of Nuwara Eliya District (one million + population). There were no facilities, at all for disabled children/young people (sixteen years on, MENCAFEP remains the only resource for the disabled in the district). The organisation was started, to address the various needs of disabled children/young people and their families. |
The original funding came from local donations, with Save the Children UK contributing some funding until 1990. |
MENCAFEP caters for male and female children/young people, from all social/cultural/religious groups (majority from very poor backgrounds). |
The project has been registered as an N.G.O. with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Social Services since 1989. |
At the beginning of March 1990 Terre des Hommes - Netherlands started it’s funding of the organisation. During this time Tdh has paid the basic running costs of MENCAFEP and purchased (with the help of MENCAFEP parents contribution) a bus for the centre’s transport purposes. Tdh along with Mensen In Nood - Netherlands purchased the building and land that is now the MENCAFEP school and day care centre. During 1996, Tdh helped with the building of staff quarters and in 1998, Tdh built a vocational training centre. |
Over the years, SIDA has helped with the Educational Unit. With Hope for Children UK and MENCAP UK, helping with the sheltered workshop/vocational training. Also, The Netherlands Embassy has assisted in the maintenance of the land and main building. Sujeeva a Swiss NGO has helped with sponsorships of children and their families. Many local organisations, such as the Rotary Club of Nuwara Eliya, and individuals have given their support over the years. With Individual and group support coming from all over the world. |
The main funders at the moment are Terre des hommes – Netherlands, with support coming from Hope for Children UK. The above funders cover 80% of MENCAFEP’s overall budget for a three year period, when MENCAFEP again has to apply for funding. The other 20% of the overall budget MENCAFEP has to find itself, along with funds for any new project they wish to start. |
| Along with Tdh - Netherlands, AVSI of
Italy are helping fund MENCAFEP's work
in Batticaloa District, by funding the
building of a purpose built Centre. With
AISLABY TSUNAMI APPEAL UK and The
Whitstable Fund UK, run by Elsa Bennett
and friends of MENCAFEP around the UK,
funding outreach projects in Batticaloa
District. Geneva Global - USAID are
funding specific projects in Nuwara
Eliya and Batticaloa. |
A special thank you must go to our
friends and supporters from all over the
world, who are too numerous to mention,
you all know who you are, who have
supported us and continue to support us
- THANK YOU, your love and kindness has
helped MENCAFEP become what it is. |
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| Photographs and Articles by: Chris Stubbs |
