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| Sunday, 9 January 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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We are now living in the age of Information Technology and are busy collecting, processing and storing data. Therefore, we don't have enough time to pay attention to our social, cultural and religious surroundings. However, we know that there are certain groups of people who are abused and discriminated. Disabled people, beggars, women, children, old people, labourers and low caste people are some who are discriminated not only in Sri Lanka, but in many parts of the world. Children, who are considered flowers that spread their scent, are abused by elders who steal their innocence. A lot of poor, helpless orphans can be found in our society. We can also see a lot of children earning a living for themselves and their families. They are sent to work for rich people mostly by their own parents who are looking for some money. These young children are almost always ill-treated by their employers. They are beaten, burnt and injured in many other ways for the smallest mistake they make. Children are also employed in the drug business. They are used to grow or distribute drugs to the public. The danger here is that they will also be encouraged to use drugs in the future. It destroys our future generation. Children are also forced to carry out robberies and plunder on behalf of elders and often, they are the ones who are caught and punished. Though it is illegal to employ children under the age of 14, they are abducted and forced to work in dried fish vadiyas in coastal areas. In these places, they find themselves subjected to discrimination and humiliation. Sexual abuse of children is also prevalent all over the world. The ethnic war which raged in the country for many years has disrupted the lives of many children in our country, especially in the North and East. Some of them have been forced to fight in the war as soldiers without attending school or enjoying their childhood. Now there is more emphasis on protection of children's rights. Thus, education has been guaranteed to all children with a law that has made it compulsory for all parents to send their children under 14 years to school. Protection of children's rights was also discussed at the 11th SAARC conference held in Colombo. However,despite propaganda carried out by the National Child Protection Authority, child abuse still continues. Solving this problem is certainly not easy. To solve the problem, much awareness is needed. The help of society, especially the government, non-governmental organisations, parents, teachers, religious leaders, media and police is absolutely essential to solve the problems of children and to protect their rights, to build a strong, fortunate and healthy future generation. "We are the world We are the children We are the ones who make a better day So let's start giving There's a choice for making We are saving our own lives So let's make a better day Just you and me ...." Sent by Iromi Weerakoon, Girls' High School, Kandy. Little helping hands
It was not only adults that rendered a helping hand; little children carrying huge bags filled with clothes and other stuff and scouts and girl guides helping out victims in refugee camps were common scenes during the last two weeks. A large number of schoolchildren volunteered to sacrifice their school vacation and help their brothers and sisters in refugee camps. They were seen cleaning and distributing food and clothes in camps where thousands of tsunami victims were provided shelter. Some students were seen at social institutions such as the Red Cross and other non-governmental organisations, taking down information about affected people and organising the distribution of aid to refugee camps in the area. They not only donated clothes and food, many children got onto the streets along with their parents to collect aid for the victims. Some children had even organised special religious activities. Several children had called off their birthday celebrations and donated the money to help tsunami victims. According to officials of the Ministry of Education, many children had informed the ministry about their willingness to help clean and rehabilitate partly damaged schools in disaster stricken areas. (CNK) Programme to identify affected schools The Ministry of Education is collecting information to decide the number of schools that have been destroyed by the tsunami. Work has already begun to identify the schools that have been partially or completely destroyed by the killer waves which battered Sri Lanka two weeks ago. Over 500 schools are said to be affected. According to a Ministry news release, profiles of missing persons in the education sector such as principals, teachers, university staff and students are being compiled with the help of provincial authorities and others. Assistance in the form of dry rations, medicine, clothes and other stuff are being dispatched through teams of education officers to the affected areas. A Centre Coordinating Unit has been established at the Education Ministry to collect information about victims, and the material required for distribution is being closely monitored. A Special Committee of National Schools' Principals is organizing teams of principals, teachers and education officials to assist displaced children who are already in camps. This assistance will be in the way of providing food, other materials, school uniforms and psycho-social counselling. Psycho-social counselling for affected people is also being arranged by university academics. US renovates schools Five schools in Hambantota and Moneragala districts were improved recently with support from American people. The schools were among the 10 schools in the Southern and Uva provinces to be renovated (repaired) and upgraded, with assistance from the US Agency for International Development. The $165,000 project, jointly implemented by the US agency and the Ruhunu Children's Development Trust, an indigenous non-governmental organisation, will benefit an estimated 20,000 students in rural areas of the Galle, Hambantota and Moneragala districts. Apart from renovating sections of the schools including bathroom facilities, the grant provided new furniture as well as educational and recreational equipment to these schools.There was a lot of community participation and support for the projects. |
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| News | Business | Features
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
It has been two weeks since the deadly tsunami hit our country, but for
most of us, it seems just yesterday. Although it will take years to wipe
out the dark memories of this tragedy, many believe that the mass
devastation reunited the country. Millions of people came to the rescue of
victims, showing their concern and love, assuring the innocent victims
that they are not alone in the aftermath of this calamity.
