Some of you may know that children with learning disabilities hold a very special place for me.

This largely stemmed from a little man named Aathavan. Aathavan was 6 years old when he joined our orphanage in Mannar and it didn't take long to recognise that he has severe autism. What we didnt realise at the time, is the impact he would later have on us.

It is unfortuante that mental disability continues to be grossly stigmatised in places like Sri Lanka. These children are seen as "cursed," a "nuisance", enough to be rejected from their community. Our little Aathavan reminded us of that.

Not only did he inspire a Bharathanatyam production on Autism titled 'My World', but as he grew older, he provoked heated debates at home on how we should pave his future - a future that deserves to be bright, happy and purposful.

We have decided to build a centre for children with severe learning difficulties in the North of Sri Lanka. Here, our children will be taught to make items such as inscence sticks, holy ash and savoury sweets (coming soon to a tamil kadai near you) - the profits of which will go directly back to them. We hope to give them a future that can make them smile and a future that breaks the 'mentality' of those that surround them.