ECSAT

VSO currently does not have a long-term partnership with ECSAT. However, ECSAT’s programme and approach is one of inclusion in the community, which is in line with VSO’s approach and objective of enabling people with disabilities to access their rights and participate in their communities. VSO will explore the possibility of developing a long-term partnership with ECSAT in the future around shared objectives.

The following is some organisational information on ECSAT. Additional information is on their website ... www.ecsatlanka.org

Name: ECSAT stands for Equality-based Community Support And Training, and the
meaning of the entire word in Sinhala is ‘Unified’.

Vision: ‘A society in which vulnerable people are supported in their own communities in the
spirit of equality.’

Mission: ‘To provide holistic support services in the community to vulnerable people and
their families, enabling them to live their lives as fully as possible.’

Objectives:
Help tsunami-affected children and their families to rebuild their lives.
Ensure people with disabilities can live in their communities.
Build skills and promote work opportunities for the differently abled.

Strategies:
Strategy 1 : Child Support Groups to encourage children to support each other, both
Centre-based and mobile units.
: Day Care for children so their parents can rebuild their lives in the knowledge
that their children are safe.
: Provision of a safe area that all local children can access to play or study in a
supportive environment
: Provision of nutritious lunch and snack for children in attendance
: Parent support groups

Strategy 2 : Day care services so that parents can keep their children at home while still
being able to work.
: Therapy services so people do not need to travel far for rehabilitation.
: Parent support groups so parents have emotional support.
: Parental training to enable them to stimulate and support their children.

Strategy 3 : Life skills training for adults and young people with disabilities.
: Vocational training for adults with disabilities.
: Giving assistance to trainees in finding work by liasing with employers.
: Social activities and peer support for people with disabilities to build social
and emotional skills.

Principles:
· All people have the right to live in their own communities as equal members.
· Rehabilitation is holistic, including not only medical aspects but also social, vocational
and emotional ones.
· At all times we will work in a transparent and honest way so that individuals within and
outside of the organization can see what we are doing.
· Regardless of status, ability, gender, ethnicity, or religion, we will always listen to and
include our beneficiaries at every level of the organization.
· We work to support vulnerable people not out of pity, but out of the recognition that
community based services are their right.