Community Connect Mission

20/03/2023

Every woman needs a source of income to take care of their little ones.

20/03/2023

Let us normalize self empowernment

20/03/2023

This child has magical and inspiring message.

24/02/2023

Blind football Uganda,

Our dedication is supporting blind football players in reaching their full potential during their sporting career and beyond.

24/02/2023

Mobility orientation with Brightening life.

23/02/2023

Thank you partners for serving the less privileged.

23/02/2023

Meeting about project partnerships, planning and ex*****on.

23/02/2023

It is better we learn sign language for the good of our special friends.And us one day because no one knows what tomorrow holds.

23/02/2023

My dream is to see that every child in Africa is empowered, bold and strong enough to survive independently

23/02/2023

Am not in any way disrespecting my culture but this act is violating one's natural body and involves pain.

13/02/2023

Thanks for empowering children especially the girl child

13/12/2022

"Nothing is Insignificant"

Whether you are making a cup of tea, washing the clothes, preparing lunch, having a chat or giving someone a lift to where they need to be, you are making a significant difference in this world.

For no-one and nothing is insignificant, and while these things may seem like very ordinary, everyday acts that people don’t generally pay much attention to, they all matter to the one that needs it.

Your tiny acts, no matter how small are how you show your love, and that energy, when flowed out into this world, is all that matters – not the end result, and not how much you are able to do – simply that you are flowing that love out from your being.

That energy of caring, of wanting to help, of wanting to give (even if you don’t think that you have anything much to offer) and that desire within you that longs to contribute is the sweetest and most life giving energy that you can share with others.

Your kindness and thoughtfulness carries with it so much beauty and it has the power to nourish and uplift those who are lucky enough to be on the receiving end.

So, even if you think that you don’t have much to offer, speak up and let others know when you feel the desire to help arise within you – for you may be surprised at just how much your care is exactly what is needed and just how much you DO contribute just by making it known.

❤

03/10/2022

"I first met Prabath in January 1996 when we were both in year 9 at Newlands College in New Zealand. At the time I had no idea that he was rapidly losing his vision because he had such an easy-going nature and he just got on with things.

I often think about our days at college on the back courts playing cricket and having a laugh. His enthusiasm for sports, outdoor activities and art definitely weren’t characteristic of someone who was going blind and so we never really considered that that could be the case

It is so great to hear that he has done so much and has never backed down despite his blindness. His positivity is amazing and the world would definitely be a much better place if everyone had an outlook like his.

Keep up the positivity Prabath, cheers my friend!"

~ Travis Anquetil, Wellington, New Zealand

30/09/2022

Your life matters

Fortune of change: Before you think of ending your life please, talk to me,I can listen, understand, won't judge you,am empathetic and we shall look for any possible ways to settle your mental health.I relate and I have ever been there

30/09/2022

Fortune of change: Before you think of ending your life please, talk to me,I can listen, understand, won't judge you,am empathetic and we shall look for any possible ways to settle your mental health.I relate and I have ever been there

30/09/2022

When depression over powers you,read this..

"I know we don’t know each other, but..."

28/09/2022

We need to tackle the rout cause for teenage pregnancy first before handling the outcomes.

28/09/2022

Differently able people are a great source of inspiration.

"Connection through Creativity"

~ Prabath Wickramanayake

Creativity isn’t limited to any particular form, and that is exactly why it is such a powerful tool for the differently able community to be able to engage with the world.

Creative arts such as drama, art, music, literature and dance all have the power to bring people from all walks of life together and they are also an enjoyable way for the differently able community to be able to express their views and feelings and contribute.

Creativity is universal and it is something that we all possess. It goes beyond the mind level and touches into the heart, and that is exactly the space where we can connect.

I may be blind, but through art, music or writing I can still empower and touch others, and so can you!

09/09/2022

You don't have to wait for confidence to act,you have to act and gain confidence through acting.

"Take Action!"

I talk a lot about confidence being required to live a life of happiness.

While this is true, you do need confidence and belief in yourself to live a meaningful and joyful life, don’t ever think for a second that I am telling you that you need to wait until you feel confident to get out there and chase your dreams.

You see, confidence isn’t something that you wait around for, that’s not how it works.

Confidence is something that arrives THROUGH taking action in the direction that you wish to go.

You don’t wait to feel confident before you act, you become confident THROUGH taking action.

You just decide what you want more of in your life and then you get out there and you act on it, again and again and again.

Through getting out there and simply showing up, and then resolving to show up over and over, you become an active participant in your own life, no longer standing on the sidelines, no longer waiting for anything else to come and make you feel good first, you simply begin and paradoxically that is the moment that you begin to feel really good about yourself anyway.

It’s never about whether you succeed or not, it’s only ever about taking those forward steps and not being stopped when the mind tries to tell you that you can’t.

That is what builds inner strength and fortitude; knowing that you are going to do it anyway, because THAT’S WHAT YOUR HEART WANTS TO DO, and nobody else, not even your own mind gets to have a say in that.

So, even when those thoughts are screaming at you, declaring that you are hopeless, that you are not good enough and that you will fail, and even when you are feeling anything BUT confident, you JUST STEP FORWARD ANYWAY, and you show yourself what you are capable of, allowing the heart to lead, so that there is nothing left for the critical mind to do but surrender into the silence.

THAT is how you build confidence.

Resolve to immerse yourself every day in something that you love, something that lights you up and something that brings you joy, and don’t wait.

Ask yourself, ‘What do I love and how can I bring more of that into my experience today?’

Even in the smallest way you can take an action that will move you closer to what you want or where you want to be.

Just like drops of water falling into a bucket, the first drop may seem insignificant, maybe even the 3rd, 4th or 5th will be barely noticeable, but before long those drops will accumulate and that bucket will be overflowing.

So don’t discount your little steps. Every one of them matters, and every step forward will build on the one before, until you are forced to acknowledge just how truly capable and confident you have become.

08/09/2022

Arvest Share - Arvest Bank Introduces Braille Debit Cards for Consumers - Newsroom

25/08/2022

“Broadening my Inner Vision"

~ Prabath Wickramanayake

When you are suffering with deteriorating vision one thing that always crosses your mind is the worrying question,

“What if I am no longer able to do the things that I once did and that I once enjoyed?”, and then the next question is often “If I am no longer able to participate in the activities that I once could, will I be left out?”

That feeling of loneliness and isolation and always having to explain why you can’t do something is a constant fear of those who are facing sudden vision loss. But from my own personal experience I can tell you that I have actually accomplished more as a blind man than what I did as a person with very limited vision.

Sure, there were certain things that I needed to let go of or learn to do differently, but there were so many more things that came in to fill that space as soon as I broadened my inner vision and began looking outside of the box for solutions and new ways of immersing myself in what I am passionate about.

With the loss of my vision I had to adjust, adapt and embrace a new life that really wasn’t easy at all. But since I stepped into this new land (that I call blind land) I have been determined to master the ropes and learn all that there is to know so that I can develop the skills, tools and techniques to help navigate me through.

When I first lost my vision I too thought that I may have to give up on so many things that I loved, but little did I know that there are so many different ways of doing anything.

With the right support, and determination I ended up accomplishing so many things that I had always wanted to do and taking part in so many activities that I had always been passionate about, just not necessarily in the same way that I did before.

Of my most treasured achievements since becoming completely blind, those on the top of my list would have to be; publishing a novel to raise awareness on living with blindness (for people in Sri Lanka), travelling to over 150 cities all around the world, designing and co-ordinating programs for underprivileged youth within South and South East Asia , working within universities and journals in Melbourne and founding an organization that is currently helping to bring the blind and the sighted together.

These are just a few of the things that I have been able to accomplish as a blind individual, and if I was to keep going I would bore you with the length of that list, because the truth is, blindness has never been a barrier to me achieving what I set my mind to.

So, if anyone is thinking that they may not be able to do things because of their deteriorating vision, throw that thought away right now. There is so much support out there, and with the right frame of mind and a willingness to grow and find your own unique way, the possibilities are endless.

12/08/2022

Brightening life

“Mobility Training enriches not only the Blind but the Entire Economy”

~ Ishara De Alwis

Mobility is a vital aspect of a person’s life yet a vast number of blind youths, especially the females, lack adequate training in this basic arena for their own independence. This lack of training and development leads to a huge lack of life potential and mental wellbeing for this segment of our society.

Without the proper training on how to orientate oneself and move with ease and confidence it is difficult for a blind person to venture outside of the confines of their immediate surroundings let alone fulfil their personal and social needs or pursue educational and professional dreams.

This undoubtedly puts a limitation on their individual development and denies them access to so much of what the world has to offer, keeping them dependent on their sighted counterparts for any access to the world outside of their front door.

This is not just a mental dilemma for the blind youths, who just like their sighted counterparts love to take part in social, community and recreational activities, but their lack of participation in educational and professional arenas means that there is also a vast underutilisation of the human potential that lives within each of these unique and brilliant human beings.

These youths are trainable just like anyone else and they are each born with gifts and talents that are just waiting to be accessed and utilised, but this lack of freedom to move due to insufficient training denies them the opportunity to flourish and become the best, happiest version of themselves.

In a world where many are quick to label the blind as a burden to their families and to the economy, it is shocking to see that more is not being done to help encourage and support them in their ability to step forward and grow, because if they were given this opportunity they could very quickly show the world the true extent of the potential and desire to contribute that lives within them and just how much they can give back to their communities when given the chance.

Mobility training may not be the only way to achieve this objective but it is definitely one of the most powerful avenues that can be utilised to allow these individuals to step forward and live a more independent and prosperous life.

Overcoming the fear of moving independently in this world and no longer needing to rely on others to get from a to b is an enormous feat for a blind person, but once achieved it will never be squandered, and the blind will only move more powerfully forward as a result, enriching not just their own lives, but also the broader economy as a whole.

This is exactly why Brightening Life is dedicated to creating and establishing Orientation & Mobility Programs for the blind youth all over Sri Lanka, especially those who are living in rural regions with limited access to opportunities and resources.

For more articles like this please visit www.viewsxchange.com

11/08/2022

Power of self trust

Prabath Wickramanayake has always been captivated by the beauty of nature. As he lost his sight, he felt like he'd lose his connection to nature, too. But with advances in technology, he's able to recapture that joy in photos. Prabath is blind. As he lost sight, he feared losing his connection to na...

05/08/2022

Digital inclusion is the key to better life.

“Exclusion is not an Option”

~ Prabath Wickramanayake

If ‘access to information in an accessible format’ is a crucial right of all individuals within our society, then this digital world, which is rich with information and learning, is a pivotal resource and as such should be made accessible to all regardless of their abilities and/or socio-economic status.

Without adequate access to the internet and the digital devices that make it possible, all of the conversations, learning opportunities, professional development, social interactions and entertainment that the cyber world gives rise to, will forever remain just out of reach for so many with the implications of this extending out to impact both the mental, emotional and social wellbeing of those who are excluded.

02/08/2022

"Collisions are Inevitable"

~ Prabath Wickramanayake

In busy environments such as shopping centres, train stations, city centres etc, there is an assumption that the blind will not be safe as they will highly likely bump into things. Because of this the blind are often discouraged by the sighted to venture out into such settings.

But the truth is, we (the blind) are masters of tuning in to our environments, and when we expose ourselves to such settings we quickly devise our own ways of navigating through the busy crowd.

Instead of discouraging the blind, the sighted should instead be encouraging them to be more mobile and even give them pointers to help them build their skill set and confidence with these things.

Simply labelling the blind as vulnerable and unable to do certain things because of a fear of what may happen is not helpful, in fact it is the opposite of helpful, it is damaging.

We all fall and we all bump into each other sometimes. That doesn’t mean that we should always stay confined to quiet spaces just to avoid this. The number of times that I have experienced the sighted bumping into me or my cane because of their lack of awareness of their surroundings is laughable. So often the sighted pay little to no attention to what they are doing or where they are going because they are so stuck in their heads or so immersed in their online world, often glued to their devices or phones and they are not aware of much else.

This often leads to them bumping into each other more than the blind ever would.

So my blind brothers and sisters, if you ever hear such remarks from the sighted, pay no attention, get your white cane out anyway and get out there. Have the confidence to simply put one step in front of the other and use your amazing sensory perception to find your way through, because your ability to tune into your environment automatically makes you more present and aware than most sighted people out there anyway so in many ways this makes you far safer than most.

Busy environments are not anywhere near as scary or dangerous as the sighted make them out to be, especially not when you are as astute, aware and present as we are.

But what does it matter if you bump into something anyway? None of us are perfect and none of us, not even the sighted, can avoid the odd collision if we are truly living life to the fullest and are in the thick of the action.

So don’t be discouraged, trust yourself and know that you will always find your way through, all you have to do is keep being willing to get out there and try.

01/08/2022

01/08/2022

Brightening life with Prabath

“It is wonderful to see what we have been able to achieve in just 1 year.

The number of programs that have been created for the benefit of both blind and sighted individuals living throughout the island and abroad is a clear testament to the hard work and vision of everyone within the organisation.

It truly shows just what is possible when like minded, kind hearted people come together and are willing to do what it takes to make a difference.

The seeds we plant today will continue to flourish for many years to come and I couldn’t be more proud of my team for all of their efforts and dedication this past year. No doubt together we will continue to bridge the gap and make a more inclusive society for all, bringing even more hope and light as we go.

Thank you all for sharing in our journey.”

~ Prabath Wickramanayake, Founder Brightening Life

30/07/2022

We should stop blaming our conditions and look for ways of over coming them or learning to live with them.

"The Darkness"

~ Prabath Wickramanayake

I have noticed that one of the greatest barriers for people with gradually deteriorating eyesight is their fear around the darkness.

This fear is never more apparent than at night time, because this is usually the first place that we encounter it fully.

You see, for many people with conditions like RP (which is what I have) our eyes do not adjust to the changing light conditions as most peoples do and so when the night rolls in we experience what is known as Night Blindness and our world goes completely black.

This Night Blindness causes many sufferers extreme anxiety around going out at night-time and has them withdraw from social events and such because they fear the darkness that draws upon them at this time.

My experience with this darkness personally is a very interesting one and I imagine it is not like that of most people, because even though I experienced it, I didn’t realise that I was experiencing anything unusual.

You see, I was night blind from a very young age but I didn’t even know it. I always heard people speaking about the darkness at night time in general, so I didn’t ever think it was weird.

But then at around 13yrs of age I learnt about night blindness and colour blindness and that had me realise that I may be experiencing things slightly differently.

But the thing was, by the time I realised that I may be different, I had already become so well adjusted to this way of being and I had already come up with my own strategies to cope and manoeuvre through this black world, that I was already through the worst of it without ever having experienced the fear that plagues so many RP sufferers.

As I look back now I can see how this complete innocence and ‘not knowing’ actually helped me and served me very well. I didn’t know that what I was experiencing was different and so I never for a moment defined myself as lacking and as such I never got caught up in a fear of this darkness.

I thought that what I saw, or more-so what I didn’t’ see, was what everyone else saw too and so I knew that if they were getting through then I could too.

This total acceptance and determination propelled me forward.

At a very young age I linked night blindness to being the reason that we all generally stay in at night. It was not a strange assumption to me as it made complete sense and at that point in my life I knew that I was considered short-sighted, but I never thought that that was weird or really different in a significant way so I had no reason to believe that my night time experience was significantly different to anyone else’s either.

I had no knowledge of my blindness, not even the doctors had picked up on my RP condition and so I had no fear of not getting through. All I knew was that everyone else was finding a way and so I would too.

How powerful our belief is.

As I look back now I can so clearly see that it was my perspective that made me who I am today. My perspective and my unwillingness to see myself as limited; even if it was an innocent assumption to begin with it has since become an undeniable truth for me.

We become what we believe, and the mind can so easily cripple us and have us collapse if we let it. But we don’t have to let it.

This period of my life truly showed me that no matter what we are going through it is always how we perceive and label ourselves that determines our fate.

Our interpretation is everything and luckily that is the one thing that we can control.

29/07/2022

Your mental Health is a Priority.
Your inner Peace is a Priority.
Your Self-care is a Priority.
Your Happiness is a Priority.

Don’t take yourself for granted. Nourish and reflect on all parts of yourself that needs healing and self-love. Be patient and kind during the process.

Good morning friends ...

29/07/2022

Let empathy, love and respect lead

28/07/2022

"Learn to put yourself in another’s shoes, because one day it may be you having to wear those shoes, and that is when you will come to realise the true importance of empathy and compassion."

~ Prabath Wickramanayake

P.s this is why Views Xchange is such a vital tool for the general public as it gives us all a glimpse into the unique experiences, perspectives and day to day lived experiences of the blind community, allowing us to walk in their shoes for just a moment.

26/07/2022