Save and nurture the children

These are the compositions sent by the students of Leeds International School, Panadura as part of a special project for Children's Day, which was celebrated last month. It's an appeal from the children to the adult world to save and nurture the children and their beautiful world.

I ask you for my inheritance. What treasures have you left me? What can I learn from you? Please answer me, I am a member of the next generation and am eager to know.

The forests are being destroyed, animals are becoming extinct, global warming! Oh what is happening? Is this what our forefathers left you? No, I don't think so. They had given you a great inheritance, but when you have wasted it all what's left for us?

Day by day you cut down trees, and destroy forests. Mother Nature has become furious with your heartless behaviour. She has started to inflict punishments through storms, floods, landslides, droughts making all living beings suffer.

Finally, you will look around and search. You'll find nothing. No trees, no animals, and then finally no people. We love the smell of the woods and the singing of the birds.

We enjoy simple wonders of nature wherever we see them. You have no time in your greed for money, and therefore you are blind.

Stop! Just wait a minute. Look around at what you're destroying. We hear all sorts of things like global warming. Have you thought about this? Don't be so selfish. Think about us too.

We are children and we look up to you as adults. Don't spoil us. Teach us good qualities, or have you forgotten what good qualities are?

Our ancestors, including the great rulers, have given you beautiful tanks, they built wonders like Sigiriya and gave you an unlimited amount of wealth, and moral values to pass onto the next generation.

Follow their footsteps and give us the same. Be generous towards the environment and set an example to your sons and daughters. Remember, we look up to you with great hope for a better and peaceful future.

Ruchini Wijesuriya, Form 5.

We are innocent children,
Who are forced to do bad things,
Oh! Please don't do that,
And make the innocent suffer.

We are used as labourers,
To transport what we hate,
Oh! Please try to prevent it,
And show the correct way.

We are used as slaves
To get their work done
Oh! Please give us freedom
To be what we want.

We are made to disguise,
As beggars to beg and plead,
To beg coins from the rich,
And give them to robbers.
We are innocent children,
Not knowing what to do,
Please don't harass us,
To get mean things done.

As elders show us the correct path,
Never misuse or mislead us,
We always look up to you,
So give back our lost world.

Minoli Walallawita, Form 5.

We as children appeal to adults to avoid doing dreadful things like child abuse, consuming liquor, polluting the environment and neglecting their husbands,wives and children.

We as children would like to have respectable and decent adults around us. We go to them for advice and consolation. We look up to them, to brighten our future and lead us on the correct path. It is their duty to set a good example to us.

Children expect decent behaviour, speech and good manners. Very often they learn bad words from adults, because such words are used by adults during arguments in their homes. Parents should never have arguments in the presence of their children. Adults should not sit together with children and watch tele dramas that are not suitable for them.

There are intelligent adults who do not watch such teledramas, but there are others who just do not care.

Sometimes, they also explain the teledrama to the children: However, they may not have time to listen to a religious sermon on a Poya day with their children. Neglecting religion leads to all evil. Most adults do not think of the children's future.

If they eat, drink and enjoy themselves that is all that matters to them. As a result, some children do not respect their elders.

They neglect their studies, make bad friends and follow in the bad footsteps of their parents and elders. Parents especially should have a fixed programme for their children incorporating a time for studies, watching television, having their meals and playing. If this is practised, children will never go astray.

In most houses, the father comes home at one time, the mother comes at another time, and the children go out with their friends, and come back at any time they want. Adults should act with more responsibility.We appeal to you to make our world a peaceful and safe place where we can live happily.

Kanushka Sooriyabandara, Form 5.

On this memorable day, we the Primary 4 students of Leeds International School, Panadura want to make a fervent appeal.

* We appeal to all relevant authorities to preserve our rights. More than anything else, we like to have security, protection and freedom.

* Food, clothing and shelter are vital needs and it is our genuine desire to enjoy these rights. To live in this complex and competitive world, we must have a sound education.

* Exposure to good health care and a pleasant environment are also rights we should enjoy and are entitled to.

* Finally, we all strongly appeal for peace around us which has become so rare to obtain. please give us Peace for a bright future!

Primary 4 students.