Take care of stray dogs too!

Winner:

Just as much as humans, animals too like to live a free and comfortable life. Even stray dogs like to live a good life. Like most other animals, they too should be protected.

This is a story of how I took great care of three stray dogs.

One day when I was day dreaming about puppies while on the swing, I heard a small whine behind me. I turned back to see, a cute little puppy wagging its tail as fast as he could.

I was so happy, and gave the cute and hungry little pup a whole packet of biscuits. Somehow the puppy got friendly with me and so I begged my parents to allow me to keep him. They agreed to let me keep him and got him vaccinated.

I named the pup Tommy. Time went by and Tommy became a big dog. One day Tommy went for a walk alone and did not return for two days. But, when he did come back, he was not alone.

There was a cute little female stray pup trailing behind him. She too was very cute and friendly.

I wanted to keep her too. After much persuasion my parents agreed to let me keep her too. This cute little stray pup too was vaccinated.

I named the female pup Timmy. Timmy and Tommy enjoyed their time with me. I loved them very much. I fed and bathed them, and took them to the vet regularly. I played a lot with them.

Timmy became pregnant and gave birth to a puppy just like Tommy. So, I named him Toaby. Tommy and Timmy were always guarding him. I too spent a lot of time with the cute little pup.

Now I have a big responsibility of caring for three lovely doggies. I will never shirk that responsibility.

I think that now these stray dogs are enjoying a beautiful life. I advise others too to protect stray dogs and give them a good life, if they can.October 4 marks World Animal Day. It’s a great day to show kindness to all animals, not just your pets.

Sachintha Bandara Pilapitiya,
Grade 6,
S. Thomas ’ Preparatory School,
Kollupitiya.

Caring for elders

Winner:

Yesterday was World Elders’ Day. Elders are the aged in a family or community.

They are people who are in the twilight of their lives, unable to fend for themselves as they are feeble and weak due to old age. They need to be well cared for and looked after.

They need help in their daily chores, like bathing, washing, cooking and shopping. They also need company. So, it is our duty to offer them good care and time.

They should be allowed to tell about their past experiences and relate stories. We could invite them for our birthday parties and other functions and allow them to share in the fun. They feel very happy to receive presents.

They should be given good and nutritious food for their meals. When they fall ill, a doctor’s consultation should be provided without any delay.

Walking is a good exercise for the aged. And so, if they are healthy they should be taken for evening strolls. Every family should be proud to have a senior citizen in their family and take good care of him or her.

N.M. Fayaad,
St. Mary’s College,
Nawalapitiya.

Animals should not be kept in zoos

Winner:

Animals too have their rights. They are living creatures who would like to spend their lives more freely in their natural habitat. Wild animals have the freedom to move about freely.

When looking for food or if they want to move to a new area, they can do so freely when they are living in their natural habitats. When we cage an animal, even though we provide all the food and facilities, I doubt whether the animal is satisfied.

It may eat and live in a cage but the freedom of going from one place to another is only a dream for the creature.

In the zoos, the disturbances caused by the spectators may sometimes be inconvenient to the animals.

They may not get an opportunity to rest when they want to. The food too will be given only at times suited for the zoo officials. The caged animals get isolated. They will be kept away from their herds or other members of their kind.

I think it is a great injustice to keep them caged. Like humans, the animals too should be given their freedom. They shouldn’t be kept in zoos.

Sonali Sanduni Priyankara,
Grade 12, Science,
Holy Family Convent,
Dehiwala.

Importance of teachers

Winner:

We meet lots of teachers in our school life. They teach us various things. Some teach in the primary section while others do so in the upper section.

Most teachers are kind and concerned about us and our studies. They teach us good habits and assist us in our studies. Some are quite strict. They guide us to lead a good life.

They teach us various subjects and explain topics which are difficult to understand. They also teach us how to respect elders and parents. Without their help and support it would be hard for us to read and write.

If we fall ill at school our teachers generally give us medicine from the First Aid box at school and take care of us. A kind and good teacher always treats all students in an equal manner and ensures everyone studies well.

As students we should be obedient and attentive in our studies. We must help our teachers whenever we can. It’s our duty. There is a special day to examine and appreciate their service, that’s Teacher’s Day which falls on October 5. We must love and respect our teachers at all times, even after we complete school.

S. S. Shan,
Malwana International School.

Respect and obey teachers

Winner:

Teachers are called our second parents. Respecting them is one way of loving them.

Today most teachers are not being respected by students. Teachers must be respected because they work hard to educate and discipline us, students.

They also help us to gain knowledge. Our hidden talents are brought out by them. A mother generally cares only about her own children but a teacher cares about all the children.

Each religion commands a person to show love and respect for a teacher. We can show our love to teachers by respecting them, obeying them, not being rude to them and not speaking back to them or arguing.

We should try to help them in every possible way and visit them even after leaving school. We must thank them for the many things they have done to help us along the way.

A teacher is most often strict with us and disciplines us because he/she wants only good results from a student.

Teaching can be categorised as one of the noblest jobs. The sacrifices teachers make are countless.Every teacher should be respected and given a high place in society. A person who ignores or does not respect a teacher will be surely punished even by God.

The blessings of a teacher could lead us to a good future. May God bless all teachers with long life and the guidance to nurture children on the right path in life.

Fathima Nuha Hassani,
Grade 10,
Beaconhall International, Panadura.

An autobiography of a bicycle

I am a bicycle with two wheels,brakes and a handle. I am blue and black in colour. India is the place Iwas manufactured.

I was given a brand name. Initially I was with many others in a bicycle yard. Then I was boarded into a lorry,then to a ship and back again into a lorry and brought to a cycle bazaar.The place was filled with bicycles and tricycles.

Then one day, all of a sudden a person came into the bazaar and purchased me. I was sad to be separated from my other bicycle friends. But I was happy too to have a home.

The kind man who purchased me presented me to his nephew on his birthday.

The boy used me everyday. He loved me so much that he washed me every other day . He kept me sparkling bright. He treated me like a special friend and kept me in a special place. I am so happy to be in a place where I am loved and cared for.

Prageesha Jayasinghe,
Grade 7 EA,
Sujatha Vidyalaya,
Nugegoda.

Believe in yourself

Have you ever thought about your values? Just ask your heart. The answer would be “No.” But I think you should think of ‘you.’

First of all accept you as you are and start believing in yourself. Then your heart will speak. Listen carefully and recognise your values, faults and needs. First and foremost you have to forgive yourself for your faults and make a promise not to do them again.

Then be proud of your values and make a great effort to develop them. After that you can ask about your needs. Then think wisely and understand whether you really need them or not. Never give up on yourself. Pick yourself up whenever you are down. Never give a chance to somebody to laugh at you. Raise your spirits that are hiding inside you. Ask yourself to do the best you can because you have a long journey with a lot of barriers and streams to cross without a map. You have to find and reach your destination on your own. At the beginning people will try to pull you down but stand beside yourself through sun or rain.

Believe in yourself, then you can reach your journey safely. Never be a leaf that is driven away by the summer wind. Just go on your own way. Stand on your own feet. You can be a brilliant diamond in the world because there is no one like you.

Be a helping hand, be a merciful friend and be honest. Try to build a great personality in society. Build a great image, but do so with your own attitudes and not borrowed ones. Keep a charming smile every moment and leave the tears behind. Believe in yourself and reach for the stars and the whole world will be at your feet.

Darrshini Parthepan,
Grade 10D,
evi Balika Vidyalaya,
Colombo 8.