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| Sunday, 21 July 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Two intrepid riders on a mission of peace for children : To Jaffna and back On horseback to Jaffna....In what seemed like a well scripted movie, Christine Anderson and Nihara Jayatilleke Rutnam set off to Jaffna in early May, with altruism as the motive and the spirit of adventure fuelling them on. That they were doing something no woman had done before, or for that matter any man in recent history, was shrugged aside as insignificant, as the intrepid twosome trotted off on a journey that was both path-breaking and memorable. Two months on, the two riders are back in Colombo. The mission well accomplished, the rigours of the arduous journey relegated to the status of happy memories, they talk about their ride as a 'real eye-opener' that enabled them to get to know the real Jaffna. "More significant was our interaction with the people of Jaffna" they say, still marvelling at the warm welcome accorded to them by men, women and especially the children. The welcome of the latter is perhaps understandable, given the fact that the horse ride was undertaken to help the children of Jaffna through a charity project code named 'Peace for Children'. The project sought to provide a wide range of much needed items to children in the children's Ward at Vavuniya Hospital, at the IDP camp in Poonthottam, Vavuniya and a number of schools in Manukulam, Velanai and Delft in Jaffna. The journey took off with a preliminary trot through Colombo which secured public participation through contributions and donations to the value of Rs. 1.5 million. Items collected were children's clothing (used or new), shoes (used or new), stationery items, sporting equipment, note books, food items including tea, biscuits, sugar and milk powder and other items that are of use to children. The two women began their peace mission to Jaffna from Vavuniya on May 11 and the donations were distributed from June 10 to 16. Here we take a pictorial look at ''Peace for Children' that also brought joy to many children. 'Peace for Children' was assisted by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, the GTZ and was supported by the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in North and East. -HANA |
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