Nylander Industrial Co-operative Society

In 1985 Margit Nylander (from Sweden) set up what would become the first co-operative society for disabled people in Sri Lanka.

“Nylander Home”, as was the original name, was a unique place already from the start. In a society where people with disabilities on the whole are regarded as less capable, both physically and mentally, this pioneer project set out to demonstrate that this old, prejudiced way of thinking was wrong.

The new idea was to create a home and worker’s co-operative for disabled, where the members would take an active part in running the home practically. Margit Nylander generated new thinking and prepared ground for innovation, but it was the disabled members themselves who built— and are still building— their future through their own efforts.