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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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All children have RIGHTS by Chamitha Kuruppu Seven budding painters were busy putting the final touches to their beautiful works of art on canvas. These young girls, aged between 11 and 16 years, were getting ready for a three-day exhibition titled 'Our World' to be held at the Lionel Wendt from October 2 to 4. For Adilah, Shaneen, Harindrini, Nishika, Akana, Malika and Nikita, this was not a strange experience - for most of them, 'Our World' was the third or fourth exhibition and sale of paintings. But they all wanted to produce their best work of art. "We want to raise Rs.300,000," says little Nikita Samaratunga, the youngest of the group. "Shaneen had once visited the Remand Home for Girls at Ranmuthugala. There she had met over 30 young girls like us. They were in remand for sexual abuse, adult ill-treatment and other such reasons," says Adilah Ismail. "Shaneen says they don't have tables and chairs to study, so they study on the ground. Isn't it unfair? They are just like us, they should have the same facilities that we have, for their education," stressed Malika Yapa. "The saddest part is that most of these girls don't know that they are in prison. They are too young to understand anything," said Harindrini Corea. These young painters with 'big hearts' will be exhibiting and selling over 200 paintings at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery from October 2 to 4 and the proceeds will be in aid of this Remand Home for Girls. The Remand Home, the only remand home for girls in the country, comes under the purview of the Department of Probation and Childcare. The institution that can accommodate over 50 girls is in serious need of furniture especially for education purposes. The seven artists who are studying art under Lathifa Ismail have been planning this exhibition and sale of art for the last eight months. The children successfully conducted similar programmes in aid of Ward No.1, Lady Ridgeway Hospital and Hope Cancer Hospital last year. "Each of us has done at least 25 paintings for the exhibition. We know that we can raise over Rs. 300,000" smiles little Akana Jayawardena. "We love painting. It's the best medicine to ease stress. Our art class has become a second home to us and Aunty Lathifa is like a mother. She always encourages us to use our talents to get involved in charity," said Nishika Samaratunga. "When I visited the Ranmuthugala Remand Home, I felt that we should help those girls to study - and just after eight months, with the support of our parents and friends, we have organised the exhibition. We hope people will come and buy our paintings so they too can join this worthy cause. Just like the seven of us, they too can help over 50 innocent girls to study," said 13-year-old Shaneen Dewendre. |
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