Subway Sri Lanka partners with VACD as charity partner

Subway Sri Lanka, with retail outlets in Kollupitiya, Fort, Rajagiriya and Mount Lavinia has partnered with VACD (Volunteers to Assist Children with Disabilities Ltd.) to raise funds for children with disabilities during the months of July and August by donating Rs. 1 to VACD, for every Rs. 300 spent by their customers.

Each Subway store has charity boxes where customers can make their donations and deposit spare change. With this initiative, Subway Sri Lanka intends to generate awareness of the plight of these children, provide financial support to the VACD mission and bring about a meaningful change in the lives of these communities.

Volunteers to Assist Children with Disabilities Ltd. (VACD) is incorporated as a private limited liability company with the Registrar General of Companies in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka under the Companies Act No: 7 of 2007, and registration certificate bearing number: P V 111248 and dated 27 January 2016. 

The purpose of establishing VACD is to uplift the lives of children with disabilities and their families in the poorest provinces of Sri Lanka; by identifying and addressing their physical and intellectual impairments, financial hardships, social and community prejudices and creating an environment that is conducive for them to overcome these challenges, live independent lives, and become valuable citizens who are accepted by their communities, irrespective of caste, race, or religion.

VACD aims to eliminate poverty, ignorance, discrimination, social isolation, vilification, incest, and sexual abuse, etc. while promulgating and encouraging communities to value, uphold and respect the rights of children with disabilities and their families.

VACD provides children with skills and surrounds them with suitable facilities, assistance and infrastructure that will help them lead independent and productive lives.

To help these children achieve their aspirations, VACD provides parents with training and guidance to endure with the challenges of caring for their children, arranges microfinance for suitable parents to help ease their financial burdens and uplift entire families. 

The VACD centre in Bandarawela provides children with special education, life skills, vocational skills as well as computer, music, and dance training. VACD also sponsors and equips health clinics at local hospitals to facilitate regular check-ups, therapy, and rehabilitation services. This optimises their physical and health status to enable them to be independent and valuable members of their communities.