{"id":88427,"date":"2022-03-17T14:09:46","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T14:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=88427"},"modified":"2022-03-17T14:09:46","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T14:09:46","slug":"blessed-with-second-chance-adrika-sri-bawan-on-a-quest-to-empower-the-less-privileged-her-way-by-randima-attygalle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/blessed-with-second-chance-adrika-sri-bawan-on-a-quest-to-empower-the-less-privileged-her-way-by-randima-attygalle\/","title":{"rendered":"Blessed with \u2018second chance\u2019 Adrika Sri Bawan on a quest to empower the less privileged her way-By Randima Attygalle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blessed with \u2018second chance\u2019 Adrika Sri Bawan on a quest to empower the less privileged her way-By Randima Attygalle<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

\"Royal<\/p>\n

Adrika Sri Bawan with (from left): Thasindu Samaraweera, Kavindu Pushpakumara, Ravindu Weerasekera and Kasun Bandara at the Royal college hostel<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Source:<\/span><\/strong>FT<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Profoundly hearing-impaired today, Adrika hears with the help of cochlear implants. A young woman who believes in life\u2019s \u2018second chances\u2019, today she strives to champion the same for the less privileged.\u00a0<\/big><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Adrika\u2019 in Sanskrit translates into \u2018small mountain\u2019. In the epic Mahabharata, Adrika is an apsara or a nymph who was the mother of Matsya and Satyavati. Adrika Sri Bawan, the 26-year-old Melbourne-based lawyer, banker and mentor truly personifies her name. Born in Colombo, Adrika was adopted by Sharmalee and Sri Bawan when she was three months old.<\/span><\/p>\n

After an intense two-year legal battle with Australian Immigration, two-year-old Adrika arrived to start a new life when she was diagnosed with hearing loss. Profoundly hearing-impaired today, Adrika hears with the help of cochlear implants. A young woman who believes in life\u2019s \u2018second chances\u2019, today she strives to champion the same for the less privileged.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was during the height of Melbourne\u2019s lockdown in August last year that the young solicitor who was freshly admitted to the Bar stumbled upon the Royal College SEARCH project (Spoken English at Royal College Hostel) which was launched in July the same year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom happened to talk about her Sydney-based friend who was volunteering to teach spoken English for young hostellers at Royal College Colombo and this kindled my interest as well,\u201d Adrika recollected in a chat with the Daily FT during her current visit to the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With her parents<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/big><\/em>It was during the height of Melbourne\u2019s lockdown in August last year that the young solicitor who was freshly admitted to the Bar stumbled upon the Royal College SEARCH project (Spoken English at Royal College Hostel) which was launched in July the same year.\u00a0<\/big><\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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On her graduation day from the University of Melbourne<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Roots running deep<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Her intense connection with her land of birth is credited to her frequent visits to the island with her parents who enabled her a window to the ground-level realities of it, says Adrika. \u201cMy parents moved to Australia in 1990 but never forgot their roots. I grew up in a balanced culture nurtured by the values of my two home countries.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Her recent visit, however, is an emotionally charged one, having flown with her mother to intern the ashes of her beloved father whom she lost recently. On a happier note, she made her tour of duty an opportunity to visit the young Royalists whom she had been mentoring remotely for the past seven months. When the Royalist-friends of Nihal de Run (domiciled in Melbourne) brought to his attention the need to help improve the spoken English standards of the Royal College hostellers who have come through the grade five scholarship exam, he had a brain wave.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought of the numerous old boys living overseas who have reached the retirement age like me and have time to spare and want to give something back to our alma mater in recognition of the free education we received. In less than a month I had more than 50 volunteers on-board living in various parts of the world; all keen to help. Soon we had old Royalists, their spouses, children, and non-Royalists, joining us to work on SEARCH,\u201d Project SEARCH Director shared his thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Project SEARCH is today supported by more than 70 volunteers. 150 students drawn from grade eight, nine and 10 are benefitted from the program which is delivered on a one-on-one basis to address student-specific needs. Royal College Hostel the Warden Janaka Jayasinghe says that the program is soon to expand to cater to younger hostellers as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/big><\/em>Her ability to relate to the non- English-speaking communities stems out of her deep understanding of the ethos of her land of birth. It is far from an overnight attachment.\u00a0<\/big><\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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The day she was admitted to the Supreme court of Victoria in Nov. 2020<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Bridging language gaps<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For Thasindu Samaraweera from Matara and Kavindu Pushpakumara from Alauwa, both grade 10 students, the interaction with their affable young teacher Adrika Sri Bawan is a rejuvenating learning experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are slowly coming out of their shells with the help of their tutor, young students say. Ravindu Weeraskara who came to Royal College from Moneragala, now in grade eight says he is more confident to try speaking English thanks to the project and Adrika\u2019s patient tutoring.<\/span><\/p>\n

Endorsing his friend, Kasun Bandara from the same grade who came to Royal from Ratnapura says he is less self-conscious to speak English today. All four students assigned to Adrika say that the SEARCH project helps mitigate the \u2018Spoken English\u2019 gap. \u201cIn our traditional school classroom, we don\u2019t get to speak much, it is largely written-based, and this program enables us to shed stage fright of the language,\u201d they all say.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Past Secretary of the Royal College Old Hostellers Association (ROCOHA) dedicated to empowering the present-day hostellers, Padmasena Dissanayake applauds Adrika, the youngest tutor in the pool for her exemplary devotion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I recall I was first introduced to Adrika by Nihal de Run, in August last year. Her earliest concerns were her lack of knowledge in Sinhala and Tamil and whether it would be an impediment. Once she started, her only concern was \u2018why don\u2019t the other schools follow suit? She was initially taken aback by the respect of the students who kept calling her \u2018Miss\u2019 repeatedly and her mother had to give her a brief lesson on how respectfully Lankan students address their teachers, Adrika brought much energy to Project SEARCH.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe used to teach her four students in a row, spending between four to six hours on her only off-day. She only suspended classes when her dad was fighting cancer and was on his last lap. Her determination to give back to her country of birth, even though she had spent only 90 days, is remarkable. Her example has already brought us excellent results; we see much interest in younger groups to join our pool of tutors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/big><\/em>Project SEARCH is not just about a \u2018spoken English\u2019 exercise for the young tutor, it\u2019s also a passage to help foster life skills in youngsters believes Adrika who urges other schools island-wide to replicate the program. She also encourages other young volunteers like herself to support this worthy cause.\u00a0<\/big><\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Seizing life\u2019s second chances<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Adrika who currently works at Australia and New Zealand Bank (ANZ) which is one of the four biggest banks in Australia is only humbled by her professional achievements. \u201cI\u2019d rather see myself as an advocate to find to find a voice,\u201d says the smiling young professional who was nurtured by her parents who shared the vision of enabling a \u2018growth environment\u2019 capable of producing a global citizen with correct human values.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy belief is that we could only offer our children the right platform on which they need to do their best. In the case of my daughter, I never expected her to become a lawyer, I only wanted her to do a decent job and become a good citizen, but things have come around for whatever the reason,\u201d says Sharmalee Sri Bawan.<\/span><\/p>\n

When little Adrika was diagnosed with hearing loss at two, Sharmalee was in denial. \u201cI simply couldn\u2019t accept it; however, my husband and I didn\u2019t waste our time. We accessed all possible facilities and resources and educated ourselves about the condition in order for us to brave it together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Their efforts were not in vain; today Adrika believes that a person can accomplish anything in life if the person is supported for what he or she is. The numerous mentors and supporters had helped her to have faith in herself to become the person she envisioned to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents\u2019 hard work and sacrifice allowed me to contribute to society. But I was also given a chance by the wider community in Australia. My teachers, doctors, and audiologists were my biggest supporters alongside my parents. They helped me achieve my dreams and continue to do so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although not a professionally trained teacher, Adrika brings with herself hands-on experience in teaching English to asylum seekers in Australia. \u201cI see myself as a guide who helps those who cannot access resources than a teacher,\u201d she adds with a smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

Teaching English to an Afghan mother of five children who has never had any schooling remains one of the most memorable and challenging experiences for her as a tutor. Her ability to relate to the non- English-speaking communities stems out of her deep understanding of the ethos of her land of birth. It is far from an overnight attachment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/big><\/em>A product of the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney, Adrika was raised in a learning environment of \u2018open dialogue\u2019 which she strives to encourage in her young pupils. \u201cIn the Sri Lankan cultural setting, pupils are more or less passive recipients than partners in an open dialogue with their teachers.\u00a0 Their opinion is hardly sought, which is not the case in my learning environment\u00a0<\/big><\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u201cFrom my very early years, I used to be a frequent visitor to Sri Lanka. I\u2019ve seen my parents empowering communities starting from their own families,\u201d reflects Adrika who can relate to the cultural shock the young Royalists she tutors are experiencing, having come to Colombo from the backwaters of the island. \u201cApart from the changes they have to navigate, I\u2019m certain that these boys have gone through a lot of difficulties back at home,\u201d says the enthusiastic teacher who cherishes the \u2018friendship\u2019 cemented over learning. This \u2018friendship\u2019 and understanding transcend communication and technological challenges the exercise entails she notes.<\/span><\/p>\n

A product of the Universities of Melbourne and Sydney, Adrika was raised in a learning environment of \u2018open dialogue\u2019 which she strives to encourage in her young pupils. \u201cIn the Sri Lankan cultural setting, pupils are more or less passive recipients than partners in an open dialogue with their teachers. Their opinion is hardly sought, which is not the case in my learning environment,\u201d notes Adrika who encourages them to share their views on a particular subject to help them overcome not only their fear of the language but also as a means of boosting their self-confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Project SEARCH is not just about a \u2018spoken English\u2019 exercise for the young tutor, it\u2019s also a passage to help foster life skills in youngsters believes Adrika who urges other schools island-wide to replicate the program. She also encourages other young volunteers like herself to support this worthy cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to convince these youngsters that English or life for that matter is not about textbook learning, it\u2019s about smart thinking to overcome challenges. They are very intelligent children, if not they would not be at Royal College today, but there is a lot more than passing exams I tell them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, the tools of learning are there at your fingertips. I tell these boys that Google could be a great friend to learn so much, starting from the pronunciation of a word itself. I guide them on presentation skills, how to keep an audience engaged etc. They have a very long way to go and at least they have embarked on that long journey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The compassion and empathy of her students have touched Adrika deeply. \u201cI was going through a personal crisis with my father\u2019s sickness and his passing, and the boys were very understanding when I had to cancel some classes. The respect and concern I have earned from them are overwhelming.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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While it is crucial for the Sri Lankan migrant community to support their fellow countrymen at a time when the country is put on a trial like never before, the young professional also feels that there still remains a huge gulf between the haves and have-nots in the country. \u201cIt\u2019s sad to see the rich living in their bubble and the poor basically in a survival mode. Whether they really understand each other remains a question<\/big><\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Call for a better Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

While it is crucial for the Sri Lankan migrant community to support their fellow countrymen at a time when the country is put on a trial like never before, the young professional also feels that there still remains a huge gulf between the haves and have-nots in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s sad to see the rich living in their bubble and the poor basically in a survival mode. Whether they really understand each other remains a question,\u201d reflects Adrika who calls for an inclusive Sri Lanka putting class, religious and ethnic divisions aside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSri Lankans are by nature very resilient having gone through many catastrophes at various phases in the country\u2019s history; political decision-making has taken a toll on everyone and worst, on those who have no choices or resources. This needs to change for a better Sri Lanka,\u201d she adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Well-grounded, the budding lawyer aspires to pursue her legal career in London for a while. Her plans to work for two years here at home after her graduation in 2019 were aborted following the Easter Sunday attacks. Yet she is hopeful to fulfill it in the near future in better times.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0A travel enthusiast and very much an outdoor person, Adrika credits her late father for her ability to \u2018thrive among people\u2019 and her mother for her love for entertaining and playing the perfect host.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLife is uncertain for all of us, and we don\u2019t know what tomorrow will bring,\u201d reflects the multi-faceted young woman who embraces life as it comes reminding the American poet Maya Angelou\u2019s words: \u2018I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being\u2026.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

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Blessed with \u2018second chance\u2019 Adrika Sri Bawan on a quest to empower the less privileged her way-By Randima Attygalle Adrika Sri Bawan with (from left): Thasindu Samaraweera, Kavindu Pushpakumara, Ravindu Weerasekera and Kasun Bandara at the Royal college hostel Source:FT Profoundly hearing-impaired today, Adrika hears with the help of cochlear implants. 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