{"id":140443,"date":"2024-08-14T18:42:53","date_gmt":"2024-08-14T18:42:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=140443"},"modified":"2024-08-14T18:44:46","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T18:44:46","slug":"vacd-australia-sri-lanka-july-august-2024-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/vacd-australia-sri-lanka-july-august-2024-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"VACD Australia &#038; Sri Lanka July &#038; August 2024 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-130719 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/VACD-Australia-February-2024-Newsletter-01.jpg\" alt=\"VACD Australia February 2024 Newsletter-01\" width=\"274\" height=\"243\" \/><\/p>\n<h1 align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px; color: #000000;\"><strong>&#8220;Their Future in Our Hands&#8221;<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>VACD Australia &amp; Sri Lanka July &amp; August 2024 Newsletter<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>\u201cWhen we give alms with our hearts, we give well\u201d<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Dear friends, colleagues, supporters, and collaborative partners,<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Greetings to you, your families, loved ones, and colleagues from all of us at VACD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Annual Report:\u00a0<\/u><\/strong>My Annual Report for FY 2023\/24 to the VACD Australia Board and Fellows can be found on the following hyperlink:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2024\/08\/14\/vacd-australia-chairmanss-fy-2023-2024-annual-report-to-the-vacd-australia-board-fellows\/?mc_cid=5edf4da868&amp;mc_eid=f255c43632\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/2024\/08\/14\/vacd-australia-chairmanss-fy-2023-2024-annual-report-to-the-vacd-australia-board-fellows\/ <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>VACD Australia Board\u2019s Tour of VACD Sri Lanka in July 2024:\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">For the very first time in the history of VACD Australia, members of our leadership team: Deputy Chairman- Greg Fendler, his wife Jenny and children Ella, Sam, Abby, and Hanna, Treasurer \u2013 James Meighan and his wife Nicole, Director Legal, Governance, Compliance\u00a0 &amp; \u00a0Coordinator with VACD Sri Lanka \u2013 Shanthi Manamperi and her husband Palitha, Director &amp; Visiting Consultant to VACD Cantres in Sri Lanka Gabriella Vascotto, Head of Digital Communication \u2013 Aloyna (Pinky) Taylor, joined\u00a0 Yasmin Stephen &#8211; Administration &amp; Communications Secretary and myself on our recently concluded annual tour of our VACD centres in Sri Lanka.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">As always, and in keeping with our strict governance and compliance framework since inception, all expenses incurred by each one of us during this extensive tour were paid for with our own personal funds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Key Notes in brief from VACD Sri Lanka 2024 Tour:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with: Manique Gunaratne &#8211; Manager Specialized Training &amp; Disability Resource Centre &#8211; Employer\u2019s Federation of Ceylon. Manique commended VACD\u2019s early childhood supported playgroup program initiated by our VACD Director Gabriella Vascotto as there are very few such programs in Sri Lanka. She very kindly offered to find suitable employment opportunities for young adults at VACD through her island wide employer network.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with: Anoushka Boralessa \u2013 Head of Business Development &amp; Sustainability at Teardrop Hotels who sponsor our Ambagasdowa centre. They were working towards installing a water tank at this centre funded through a grant they had received and introducing income generating and skills training for our children and their parents.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">VACD Australia &amp; Sri Lanka \u2013 Joint Board meeting: Discussions were around ongoing and upcoming projects &amp; programs, vocational training for young adults &amp; parents, provision of exercise equipment at our centres, the early childhood supported playgroup program and the possibility of extending travel assistance to children and parents attending our centres and creating income generating opportunities for parents at our centres<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">More hands-on practical and theoretical training to be provided for our special educators on a regular basis given the significant number of children that now attend our centres for rehabilitation and other facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Dr. Janita Tennakoon \u2013 Director Health Services Ministry of Health Uva and her team to discuss VACD\u2019s ongoing projects, programs and new initiatives. Our VACD Sri Lanka Director \u2013 Mr. Ranathunge was appointed to liaise and coordinate with the Health Ministry.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">The team visited all three VACD centres and spent quality time with our children, their parents, families, staff and directors.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-140444\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/VACD-Australia-Sri-Lanka-July-August-2024-Newsletter-01-e1723654525222.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Director &amp; Visiting Consultant to VACD Centre&#8217;s in Sri Lanka Gabriella Vascotto conducted a special training session at our Bandarawela centre for our teaching staff across all three centres to equip them to be ready to be trained via regular video\/teleconferences to implement our planned Early Childhood Supported Playgroups Program.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-140445\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/VACD-Australia-Sri-Lanka-July-August-2024-Newsletter-02.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"362\" height=\"258\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-140447\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/VACD-Australia-Sri-Lanka-July-August-2024-Newsletter-04.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"341\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-140448\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/VACD-Australia-Sri-Lanka-July-August-2024-Newsletter-03-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"684\" height=\"693\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-140449\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/VACD-Australia-Sri-Lanka-July-August-2024-Newsletter-04-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"341\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"font-weight: 400;\" width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table width=\"600\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"600\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"600\">\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Meeting with Dr. Manel Gunasekera (CEO Chitra Lane School for disabled children) who advised us to apply to the Tertiary &amp; Vocational Education Commission of the Ministry of Education, to provide training for young adults in baking and award successful trainees a National Vocational Certificate. VACD Sri Lanka Secretary &#8211; Col. Kumarasinghe to pursue this project.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"600\">\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>VACD\u2019s Projects, Programs, Planned Activities in the Uva Province &amp; Cost estimates for FY 2024\/25<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Continuation and extension of our Education Assistance Program and Family Assistance Program. (based on available data and projection)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 20,000 P\/A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Continuation and enhancements to our Nutrition Program (based on available data and projections).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 10,000 P\/A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Provide travel, medical assistance to children from impoverished regions and financially stressed households and free prescribed medication to all our VACD children.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: Being Discussed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Conduct quarterly health clinics for VACD children. Implement an \u201coutreach\u201d program via this initiative into remote rural areas of the Uva province where parents having children with disabilities need to be made aware of the reasons for their child\u2019s health condition and how to obtain medical guidance and expert advice, in collaboration with the local Ministry of Health (based on available data and projections).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 50,000 P\/A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Conduct regular leadership, vocational, computer, Excel\/Word, motivational &amp; other skills training etc. for VACD children, their parents, siblings (based on available data and projections).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 10,000 P\/A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Provide training, equipment and supplies to implement income generating activities and projects for older VACD children attending our centres (based on available data and projections).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 10,000 P\/A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Implement household income generating programs for VACD parents and families by providing resources such as sewing machines, overlockers, fabric etc., training in home gardening, animal husbandry, bee keeping and other income generating activities in collaboration with Teardrop Hotels and other local &amp; provincial government agencies\/specialists (based on available data and projections).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 50,000 P\/A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Provide regular hands-on specialist training for all our assistant teachers at our VACD centre in Bandarawela on a quarterly basis (based on available data and projections).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 10,000 P\/A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Provide equipment for physical training, sports, exercise, recreation, art, craft, painting, music, dance, singing, vocational and life skills training, audio-visual equipment, computers, printers\/scanners for rehabilitation, workshops &amp; seminars for computer literacy training and additional office furniture to facilitate our capacity enhancement program (based on available data and projections).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 30,000 P\/A<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Implement our \u201cEarly Childhood Supported Playgroup Program\u201d for young children with developmental concerns by VACD Australia Director Ms. Gabriella Vascotto &#8211; Visiting Consultant to VACD centres in Sri Lanka, Learning Consultant Autism\/Behaviour and Supported Playgroup Project Consultant for Catholic Education Melbourne, assisted by Mrs. Netaisha Harvey \u2013 VACD\u2019s Head of Inclusive Education &amp; Partnerships (based on available data and projections).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Estimate: A$ 20,000 P\/A\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table width=\"600\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"600\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"600\">\n<table width=\"100%\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Australian Dollar Donations via Direct Bank Transfers:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Name of Account:\u00a0<\/strong>Volunteers to Assist Children with Disabilities Limited<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Bank:<\/strong>\u00a0Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Liverpool &amp; Castlereagh Streets Branch,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Cnr of Liverpool &amp; Castlereagh Streets, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Account No<\/strong>: 1130 2156 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<strong>BSB:<\/strong>\u00a0062-016\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<strong>BIC\/SWIFT<\/strong>\u00a0Code: CTBAAU2S<strong><u>Sri Lanka Rupee Donations via Direct Bank Transfers:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Name of Account:<\/strong>\u00a0Volunteers to Assist Children with Disabilities Private Limited<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Bank:<\/strong>\u00a0Seylan Bank, 240, Badulla Road, Bandarawela, Sri Lanka<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong>Account Number:<\/strong>\u00a0046035439722001<strong>Note:<\/strong>\u00a0Please send an email to:\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"mailto:fstephen@bigpond.net.au\">fstephen@bigpond.net.au<\/a>\u00a0ensuring that your name and email address are mentioned when making direct bank transfers. Thank you<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>International Multicurrency Currency Donations:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">International donors who wish to support our mission can do so through the Benevity Causes portal via the hyperlink below for all your multi-currency donation options:<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/mygoodness.benevity.org\/community\/search?query=vacd&amp;country=036 \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/mygoodness.benevity.org\/community\/search?query=vacd&amp;country=036<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Regular updates on our VACD Facebook Page:<\/u><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Ms. Aloyna (Pinky) Taylor, VACD\u2019s Head of Digital Communication, posts regular news and updates on a range of VACD activities on our Facebook page. I would encourage you to please follow us on<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vacdlk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/vacdlk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">or timely news about our mission. Please also support us by following, liking, commenting, and sharing VACD posts with your family, friends, loved ones, colleagues etc. so that your help will enable us, via the algorithms built into this electronic social networking &amp; communication platform, to extend our outreach to many more who, like you, share in our vision and mission for disabled children in Sri Lanka. Thank you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Children with disabilities and their families in the region<\/u><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\"><strong><u>A big \u201cThank You\u201d to all of you\u2026<\/u><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Our journey is bound to be long and challenging. The official and unofficial number of children and their families who need our love, support, compassion, and care are sizeable and increasing steadily. We look forward to your continued generosity, active support for our undertaking and you being partners with us in this most fulfilling and worthwhile 12+ year journey that we traverse together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Please visit us at:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/ \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/ <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">and reach out to us at: fstephen@bigpond.net.au should you choose to support our mission. Please share this newsletter with your network so that together we certainly can make a difference in the lives of children with disabilities, one by one!!!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Many thanks, best wishes, and warmest regards\u2026. Felix<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Felix Stephen<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Chairman of the Board of Directors &#8211; VACD Ltd. Sydney \u2013 Australia \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> https:\/\/www.vacd.org.au\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Member of the Advisory Board \u2013 Two Leaves Foundation Sri Lanka<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Senior Associate \u2013 Cognoscenti Group \u2013 Sydney \u2013 Australia-<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cognoscenti.global\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> http:\/\/www.cognoscenti.global\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #000000;\">Member of Investment Committee &#8211; Arrive Wealth Management &#8211; Brisbane \u2013 Australia \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 16px;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arrivewealthmanagement.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/www.arrivewealthmanagement.com.au\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-137222\" src=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/VACD-Australia-Sri-Lanka-June-2024-Newsletter-07.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"758\" height=\"741\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/elanka-newsletter-sign-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 18px;\">Click here to receive your free copy of the eLanka Newsletter twice a week delivered directly to your inbox!<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Their Future in Our Hands&#8221; VACD Australia &amp; Sri Lanka July &amp; August 2024 Newsletter \u201cWhen we give alms with our hearts, we give well\u201d Dear friends, colleagues, supporters, and collaborative partners, Greetings to you, your families, loved ones, and colleagues from all of us at VACD. Annual Report:\u00a0My Annual Report for FY 2023\/24 to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":130719,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[68601],"class_list":{"0":"post-140443","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-vacd-australia-sri-lanka-july-august-2024-newsletter","9":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>VACD Australia &amp; Sri Lanka July &amp; August 2024 Newsletter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"VACD Australia &amp; Sri Lanka July &amp; August 2024 Newsletter\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"VACD Australia &amp; 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