Stichting Hellabeem & Hellabeem Sri Lanka

30/03/2026

The Hellabeem Boys Association took to the stage and reminded every single one of us why this place is so much more than a vocational training centre. It was an evening of pure talent that left the entire audience speechless, tearful, and dancing all at once.

The evening was opened by the lighting of the stunning oil lamp Eshan crafted together with a few other boys from a banana stem, a piece of art as beautiful as the night it lit. Dilruk moved us with his songs, and then came the moment nobody saw coming: Saranga, who rarely raises his voice above a whisper, stepped forward and sang with a grace that brought the house down.
Dilan had us in absolute stitches with his brilliantly funny performance as Sergeant Nallathambi before returning to the stage to sing with equal heart. Sathmina and Amila turned the audience into performers themselves, pulling everyone to their feet. Lasindu and Samith filled the room with song, and Nipuna delivered a show-stopping dance performance dressed in full costume that will not be forgotten any time soon. Kesara closed the evening on the flute, playing a deeply soulful Sri Lankan melody that settled over the room like a quiet blessing.
And to make the night complete, our Dutch interns stepped up and performed a Dutch song, bridging two worlds in the most joyful way possible.

What a talented, brave, and brilliant group of young men. We are so proud of every single one of them.

💛

26/03/2026

Meet Rashmika 💙

Rashmika is 22 years old and has been at Hellabeem for the past 8 months. He is part of Class 2B and comes from Elpitiya in Galle. At Hellabeem, he studies computers, electronics, and agriculture — and his favorite subject is computers.

Rashmika dreams of opening his own communication shop in the future. Since birth he has not been able to walk, but he can stand and move with the help of two crutches.

Rashmika also faces many personal challenges. After losing his mother, his father tried to take care of the household until an accident left him injured. Despite these difficult circumstances, Rashmika continues to learn and grow. Although he struggles with mathematics, he reads well and communicates effectively.

Providing vocational training for differently abled young people is very important. Too often they are neglected in society. At Hellabeem, students like Rashmika are given the opportunity to build skills, confidence, and independence.

Hellabeem offers hope and a path toward a brighter future.

18/03/2026

Shan Chathuranga is from Weligama. On 21 November 2018, his life changed after a motorbike accident that left him differently abled. For a long time he was unable to work and spent many months in hospital doing rehabilitation exercises.

Before the accident, Shan worked in a hair salon for ladies and gents. Hairdressing was his passion, and he always dreamed of one day starting his own business.

In 2023, Shan was introduced to Hellabeem and joined the programme. When he first arrived, the only skill he had was hairdressing. During his time at Hellabeem, he learned many new skills including phone repairing, electronics, and graphic design.

In 2025, Shan graduated from Hellabeem. Today he carries a big dream of starting his own hair salon together with a phone repair shop.

Shan says that Hellabeem is a life changing place. It helps people stop thinking about what they cannot do and start focusing on what they can do. It teaches differently abled people how to build their own futures, earn their own income, and contribute to society.

Hellabeem has given Shan knowledge, confidence, and the ability to connect with society. He learned how to communicate with customers, negotiate, and develop practical skills for work.

Shan would like to thank Helene and Jan, the founders of Hellabeem, for creating a place that supports and empowers differently abled people.

His message to others in Sri Lanka is simple. You are not disabled. You are differently abled. Do not stay at home and lose hope. Join Hellabeem and see what is possible. Build your life, follow your dreams, and rise again.

15/03/2026

We took our boys on a little adventure with grip adventure, and it turned into such a special day for all of us.

For many of them it was the very first time kayaking in their lives. Because of their disabilities, a lot of the simple things most of us take for granted are not always easy for them to experience or enjoy.

Trips like this require a lot of planning and care. With their different health needs, everything has to be organised thoughtfully so that they feel safe, comfortable and supported throughout the day.

Thanks to the wonderful EcoGrip team and Sam, our boys were so well looked after. Our nannies and staff also joined to keep a close eye on everyone and make sure the boys could simply enjoy the adventure.

A big thank you as well to for providing the most delicious natural drinks. Many of the boys had never tasted anything like this before and it was such a fun new experience for them.

Watching them laugh, explore and have fun on the water was incredibly special.

Moments like this remind us that every bit of effort is worth it when we see them happy and enjoying something new. We feel so grateful to be able to create these experiences for them.

12/03/2026

This is the road leading to Hellabeem and it has been in this terrible condition for many years. Every election we hear promises that it will be repaired, yet nothing has ever been done.

Our wheelchairs are being damaged by this road and our children struggle just to travel for their medical visits. Each month we take them to the temple and it becomes an exhausting task to push 20 to 25 boys in wheelchairs or on crutches along this road. Even PickMe and Uber drivers often refuse to come because they do not want to drive through these conditions.

This is not just an inconvenience. It affects the dignity, health and mobility of differently abled children who already face many challenges in their daily lives.

Please help us bring attention to this issue. Share this post or the videos in your stories so that more people can see the reality we face. With enough awareness, we hope the authorities will finally take notice and repair this road without making these children wait any longer. 🙏

help us.

11/03/2026

At Hellabeem Sri Lanka, swimming lessons are one of the highlights of the week for our boys. In the water they can leave their disability, wheelchair, or crutches aside and simply enjoy the moment.

Every week our boys have swimming lessons with our Dutch interns. They help them learn how to swim, feel confident in the water, and stay safe. Through games and fun activities, the boys also work on mobility and rehabilitation.

These lessons are not only a lot of fun, they also teach important life skills and help build confidence. 💙🏊

11/03/2026

Recently At Hellabeem. From PMT to Aerobics. Our boys are busy all day everyday while having fun!

10/03/2026

I have been here since 2021, and this is my first time being part of an organisation like this. It has been a great source of support for my studies.

First of all, I would like to thank Helene and Jan, the founders, for believing in and accepting a differently abled student like me. May they receive much merit for the good they have done.

I would also like to sincerely thank Shanika Miss. When I was little, I did not have the opportunity to go to school. After coming here, Shanika Miss helped me learn Sinhala, mathematics, and many other subjects.

When I look at where I used to be, I can see how much I have improved, and I am doing much better now.

My hope is to continue studying here and one day start my own business so that I can do good work and build a better future.

01/03/2026

Welcome to our Dutch interns!

From February until June, our Dutch interns are staying in Sri Lanka to support and work alongside our students. We are so happy to have them here and grateful for all the care, energy, and dedication they bring.

They assist with PMT sessions. PMT (Psychomotor Therapy) uses movement, body awareness, and activities to support children in their emotional, social, and physical development. Through play, movement, and guided exercises, children can learn to express themselves, build confidence, and develop important skills.

In addition, our interns support swimming sessions, helping children learn how to swim, feel confident in the water, and stay safe. These lessons are not only fun, but also very important life skills.

On the weekends, they also assist with physiotherapy sessions, helping children from the village receive extra support and care.

We would like to wish our Dutch interns the very best during their stay in Sri Lanka. Thank you for coming, for your commitment, and for helping our Hellabeem students. We are grateful to have you here and look forward to the months ahead!

25/02/2026

24/02/2026

Meet Dhammika, our dedicated Home Gardening teacher at Hellabeem.

With over 18 years of experience teaching agriculture, she brings knowledge, passion and care to everything she does. Alongside her teaching, she looks after our garden and manages a banana farm, helping us grow healthy, organic food for our boys.

Over the past few years, we have made real progress. We no longer buy vegetables from the market as we once did. Dhammika has reduced our costs by half by providing six to seven varieties of vegetables each week. Today, we grow organic food without any artificial fertilisers, making compost from banana plant material and cow dung.

We now provide fresh vegetables for around 60 people, and our boys enjoy nutritious organic meals every day.

Dhammika also teaches mushroom cultivation and works closely with each child, including those with special needs. As new students join us in the future, she will continue to guide and inspire them through agriculture.

We are proud to have Dhammika as part of the Hellabeem family.