Sencholai Children's care home:

A home away from home

By Ranil Wijayapala

The decades long war in the North and East would have disrupted their tender lives and being in IDP centres would have caused immense trauma to many of these children. Many have lost parents and loved ones during the war on terrorism making their lives miserable even at a time when the entire nation is enjoying peace after the defeat of terrorism in May 2009.

They maybe more miserable when children of similar ages are enjoying true freedom in their homes with their parents when the lives of these innocent orphans turn out to be a heavy burden on their close relatives and families, making the situation worse for these war-affected children living in the North.

The 'Senchcholai' children's home, a children's home dedicated to take care of war- affected children has come to their rescue. A one time LTTE leader, and chief arms procurer of the LTTE, Kumaran Pathmanathan has turned out to be the godfather to these orphans affected by the war on terrorism and due to various other problems.

Located in Thiruvayaru, nearly a kilometre East of Iranamadu junction on the Kandy -Jaffna A-9 road, the Senchcholai Chidren's Care Home for war- affected children has now become a part of Kumaran Pathmanathan's new life in Kilinochchi. He has make one of his dreams a reality after turning out to be the guardian of these innocent children living in Senchcholai Children's home and two other children's care homes affiliated to it.

Visiting one of these homes and looking into the needs of these children have become a part of his life and the children eagerly await the arrival of 'KP Sir' as he has become the saviour of their lives.

Maybe the affection he exudes to these children may not be enough to heal the deep wounds in the minds of these children but his fatherly touch may have at least have a soothing effect. 'Senchcholai' has become a healing ground for the one time LTTE leader to make his life more peaceful and also the lives of the war- affected children a brighter one.

Talking to the Sunday Observer in subdued tones about his life dedicated to the children, Kumaran Pathmanathan says that it was one of his dreams which has come to reality.

"This dream was on my mind when I was in Thailand. Then when I was in Colombo for two years I studied the environment in the North in the war affected areas and I wanted to start orphanages for these children. It was this thought that gave me the drive to start the Senchcholai Children's Care Home", he said.

"We want to create an environment for these children to become good citizens and good human beings. I think this orphanage will help to create this type of environment for these children", he said.

"If you look at the war affected areas most of the children, their parents and everyone around was affected. They need counseling to heal the wounds. That is taking place on a gradual process at this orphanage", he said.

The Senchcholai Children care home provide shelter to 83 girls affected by the war and also children sent through Courts due to family problems while the Bharathy children's care home in Mulliyavalai , Mullaithivu provides shelter to 106 girls. Apart from these two, the Anpu children 's care home takes care of around 100 boys affected by the war, he said."Altogether there are 300 children being taken care of at these three children's homes", he said.

KP is supported by a section of the Tamil diaspora to look after their daily needs and educational requirements.

"In the past most of the Diaspora supported the LTTE but some people understood the reality and started helping the projects of this nature. Some members of the diaspora and philanthropists visited these children's homes and they saw the situation here with their own eyes. They feel that they should do something for these children and send funds for these children's home", he said.

Students preparing to sit for the GCE Ordinary Level examination

Children going to school

CHOGM participants who visited the Senchcholai Home

Explaining the plight of the children who have experienced the brutality of the war , he said that children were still suffering from that mentality.

"They need counseling to overcome this situation. Now counselors visit these children's homes on a weekly or monthly basis. We send acute cases to hospitals for treatment", he said.

"When they came they had sad faces. But things have changed fast and they have begun to smile and laugh. When I see the happiness on their faces I am delighted and I think I need nothing more.

Words are not enough to explain the happiness of the children now living in these areas compared to the situation during the war. It is improving everyday", he said. He was taking a little girl by the hand and consoling her. KP's facial expressions say much more than words.

For many children his affection has come as a blessing. Their lives are brighter as they get the opportunity to pursue their education in calm surroundings. As the children were in school, girls preparing for the OrdinarLevel examination spoke to us and told us how their lives have changed after coming to Senchcholai.

Nidarshani Baskaralingam, has come there with one of her younger sisters as they have no protection at their home and were preparing for the examination along with her friends.

"My father is living away from our family and my mother has to look after four girls. When my mother is going to work there is no protection for us at home. I came here with my sister to Senchcholai", Nidarshani said.

Life at Senchcholai had changed her a lot and encouraged her to pursue her education.

"We did not have any chance for education when we were at home. I was not bothered about education when I was at home because of the difficulties we faced. But now I am enthusiastic about my education as I get the facilities at Sencholai", she said.

S.H. Selvi who lost her mother during the war has come to Sencholai as she has no protection at home.

"After my mother's death we lived with our father. We are girls and since there is no protection for us we were sent here. My father is living but he has no money to give me for my education. He visits us every week", she said.

Life at Senchcholai has changed her for the better. "When I was at home we did not have facilities for education and had to attend school in bicycles. At the Senchcholai children's we can go to school by bus and get the required facilities", she said.

For Ravichandran Tharuka, Senchcholai has opened new avenues to improve her skills which would have been buried if she lived with the misery of the family.

"I came here two years ago as there there was no environment at home for my education.

Though I want to pursue education, it was after I came here I got facilities to pursue my education. I did not have any opportunity to expose my musical skills and dancing earlier. But after I came here I got the opportunity to improve my education and also improve my skills for music and dancing", she said.Maheshwari a retired teacher after a 24 year service joined the Senchcholai home to help the girls in their education.

"All these children have various problems either due to war or family problems. We are trying our best to give them a proper education and guide them to lead a good life at these children's home",

"They have suffered a lot and have undergone immense hardship. They have seen destruction at close quarters and this has left an indelible mark in their memory. They are traumatized by the effects of war. Now they are adopting to this situation and are living happily ", Maheshwari said.

The recent surprise visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Senchcholai has given them morale support.

" The children were happy with his visit. It was better than material support we get. His visit gave the children a moral support", Pathmanathan said.

" With the help of these children's care home our hope is that they would grow up and become happy young adults.

We want them to have good grasp of the world and knowledge to help them to take care of themselves once they move from here.

We appreciate the assistance extended to them by providing meals or funding for their education to make their future a brighter one", he said.