KIDS News
 

June - ‘Month of Schoolchildren protection'

The Ministry of Education has taken steps to implement a series of special programs with the intention of creating a suitable environment for education through a better social background, healthy mind and body. Accordingly the Ministry of Education has declared June as the 'Month of schoolchildren protection.' A series of programs have been planned in relation to the protection of children within the school premises and as well as outside. The program is conducted under the theme “Graceful Children’s World – Protected Tomorrow”. During the process of this program, the month has been divided for different activities. The first week is for Eliminating Smoking and taking Drugs, the second week is the Week of Child Protection, the third week is the Week of Promoting School Health and the fourth is for Reflection and Appreciation of Children.

Distribution of footwear among flood affected students

Footwear was distributed among flood affected students of Anuruddha Balika Vidyalaya, Dematagoda under the 'Senehe Siyapatha' Disaster Relief Fund program at a ceremony presided over by Parliamentary Reforms and Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilake at the school premises recently. Deputy Media Minister Karunaratne Paranavithana was also present. Thousands of affected children from 32 schools in the Colombo and Gampaha districts received footwear worth over Rs. 8 million from the ‘Senehe Siyapatha’ initiative, comprising the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, Dialog Axiata PLC, Disaster Management Centre, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation. Under its first phase of activity, the ‘Senehe Siyapatha’ initiative donated 50 water pumps worth Rs. 1.6 million to the Disaster Management Centre.

The third stage will focus on rehabilitating upto 15 schools which were damaged during the floods.

The disbursement of funds and actions of the ‘Senehe Siyapatha’ initiative are independently audited by PriceWaterHouseCoopers Sri Lanka, with the report published on www.dialog.lk/relief

Bill Gates donates 100,000 chickens to Poor

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has donated 100,000 chickens to poor families in Africa. The billionaire and philanthropist believes raising and selling the birds can help tackle extreme poverty. The UN estimates that 41% of people in sub-Saharan Africa live in extreme poverty. Gates said a farmer breeding five hens could earn more than $1,000 a year. The poverty line is about $700. He added that the goal was to help 30% of the rural families in sub-Saharan Africa to raise improved breeds of vaccinated chickens, up from the current 5%.

What else has Bill Gates done?Over the years Bill Gates has given millions to help the disadvantaged people. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given $36 billion to fund health, development and education projects.