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| Sunday, 1 May 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Studies go on... Against all odds
Do you recall telling your parents that you do not want to go to school without some luxury item? Yes... you do? There may be many instances where those of you who already have lots of good things in your lives demand luxury items from your parents and get angry if they do not give them to you. You may even cry or throw temper tantrums in order to get what you want. If any one of you happen to fall into this category, then it is time you took a good, hard look at yourselves. Why? Because, there are millions of children in our own little country who have no proper school to go to, and don't have even the bare necessities such as books, bags or clothes, to attend school. Let us look at some of our little sisters and brothers who plan to come back to their pre-school after the holidays. They do not have a blackboard. They do not have a play area. They do not have books either. But, they sing, dance, learn the alphabet and enjoy their pre-school. They are the students of Pereliya Negena-Tharu Pre School, studying under the guidance of H.P. Sandya Vasanthi.
On the day the Junior Observer visited Pereliya, they were having their lessons on the portico of a house in the neighbourhood. "The owners have been so good to us that they allowed us to use the garden and the portico until we get a permanent place," says their teacher Sandya Vasanthi. Previously, they were holding classes inside a tent, pitched at the Pereliya School camp grounds, with a few desks and benches, donated by the students of Pereliya School, even though they themselves do not have enough desks and chairs. Most of the desks and chairs had been destroyed by the tsunami. But, life goes on in Pereliya. They share the little they have with others and go on with their studies. "When we were in the camp, we received about 20 drawing-sheets and about five pastel colours each day from the camp. We did not have any other equipment, so we could only draw pictures. But, even with that small provision, the children learned to count, write and draw," says the teacher. Things seem to have improved slightly at present, and they are happy. Now they have about 16 small chairs and four tables. The humanitarian aid group, who is looking after Pereliya village, had started constructing a building for the pre-school. They still do not have building blocks or other toys for their play-school but, the children do not complain, according to their teacher. Perhaps, you could take a lesson from them...
But, the little ones do not want to give in or give up: A far cry from some of you who do not want to step into the school, without new bags, new clothes, new books, shoes or whatever other goods you may demand from your parents. Earlier, many of these children too had all the luxury their parents could give them. But, they do not have anything now. Yet, they do not complain. They know that all the luxury has been destroyed by the tsunami. And now, they want to get the one thing that the tsunami, or anything else cannot take away from them - that is knowledge. That is why they are determined to study and become good citizens some day, against all odds. The little ones are also given an opportunity to develop their creative skills at the pre-school. They like it best when their teacher plays the drum and sings with them. That is when they all get together to dance and sing.
Thushari's friend, Ishara Madushani likes drawing. "I love drawing trees and animals," she says. Ishara, together with her other friends, Hashini Chamathka and Iresha Madushani had painted a lovely big drawing. All of them love their pre-school and their teacher very much and enjoy studying. Most of all, they are happy. Now, isn't that the true spirit of children? -VF |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
How many of you dislike school and your studies? How many of you would
demand the latest bag to carry your books, the same kind of shoes worn by
your peers or the same kind of pencil case your best friend has? How many
of you would go to school carrying the same bag that you carried last
year? 
The pre-school helps 27 children to get ready for school. They all come
from the Pereliya area, where the tsunami destroyed many houses, some of
which were completely wiped out by the sea. Children who were living about
1.5 km away from the sea also had water flooding their houses. Some
children lost their homes and all their belongings - school books,
clothes, toys and so many other important things. Some lost their loved
ones too. 
Some of them love to play the drum themselves. Others join in the
singing with a lot of clapping. However, some prefer to watch their
friends sing and dance. "I like dancing" says little Thushari Navodya, who
joined the pre-school in January. Thushari can sing as well. 
