07/08/2005
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Amidst the ruins left by the tsunami along the coastal highway in Matara, it
is refreshing and maybe strange to hear the laughter of children. The temple
in Naotunna in Tallalle looks naked without its walls which have been taken away
by the big waves. But is has remained a haven for children of the village. There,
I walk into the premises of a Child Friendly Centre set up by Save the Children in Sri Lanka in partnership with Nawimana Rural Development Foundation (NRDF).
By the side of the temple a few hundred meters away from the sea , teenage
boys play volleyball. The girls play ‘dog and the bone’. And their laughter is
proof of happy childhood. And none of them have time for me.
There are 4 such Child Friendly Centres in Matara run by NRDF, sponsored by Save
the Children. The children gather 3 days a week after school. There are two
age groups 5 -11 years and 12 -17 years. They learn art, dance and music during
the sessions which helps them to overcome their worries and also learn something
useful and fun. Save the Children has provided each centre with sports equipment,
musical instruments and material for art. Ms. Roslin Mysers who accompanied me
is an Australian volunteer working for NRDF for the last 14 months. She does a
health and hygiene programme for children to promote good health habits. It is
a centre which brings the whole community together. During the break , nutritious
food is given to the children which is prepared by the parents. The children
walk in a line, wash their hands with soap and enjoy the food and a drink.
“Our children have regained their confidence after coming to the centre” Said Mrs. H A Varuni, whose 9 year old daughter Denethmi is a regular attendee
of the centre. “ they were so worried of another tsunami coming . But they are not afraid anymore”
Once the drawing is complete the children show their works of art. They are eager
to find out which one is the best. And the teacher declares that everyone’s a
winner. There is no doubt about that. And they admire one another’s drawings.
Then it is time for the younger group to go out and play and for the older ones
to come into the art class. The teachers who visit the centres are well trained
government teacher trainers and instructors. Their efforts have been to help
the children recover from the disaster psychologically. And within a month that
seems to have been achieved. The 4 centres which are to continue for 3 months
with a funding of LKR 425,000 ( 4250 US $) does not seem like a short term project.
There are nearly 100 children enrolled at each of these centres. The attendance
is as high as 80%. And children have a right to play; who could deny that right?
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Child Friendly Centres Supported by Save the Children in Sri Lanka
Written for PeaceReporter by
Maleec Calyaneratne
Maleec Calyaneratne
Amidst the ruins left by the tsunami along the coastal highway in Matara, it
is refreshing and maybe strange to hear the laughter of children. The temple
in Naotunna in Tallalle looks naked without its walls which have been taken away
by the big waves. But is has remained a haven for children of the village. There,
I walk into the premises of a Child Friendly Centre set up by Save the Children in Sri Lanka in partnership with Nawimana Rural Development Foundation (NRDF).
By the side of the temple a few hundred meters away from the sea , teenage
boys play volleyball. The girls play ‘dog and the bone’. And their laughter is
proof of happy childhood. And none of them have time for me. Inside one hall which has been spared by the tsunami I see an art class in progress.
Children as young as 5 years take a keen interest in drawing pictures. They do
not even notice me. For, such is the level of concentration. With the permission
of the art teacher Mr. R W Ratnapala I walk through the class room and took a
few picutres. Some of the children look at me, and I apologize for the flashing
of my camera. The children continue to colour the drawings.
There are 4 such Child Friendly Centres in Matara run by NRDF, sponsored by Save
the Children. The children gather 3 days a week after school. There are two
age groups 5 -11 years and 12 -17 years. They learn art, dance and music during
the sessions which helps them to overcome their worries and also learn something
useful and fun. Save the Children has provided each centre with sports equipment,
musical instruments and material for art. Ms. Roslin Mysers who accompanied me
is an Australian volunteer working for NRDF for the last 14 months. She does a
health and hygiene programme for children to promote good health habits. It is
a centre which brings the whole community together. During the break , nutritious
food is given to the children which is prepared by the parents. The children
walk in a line, wash their hands with soap and enjoy the food and a drink.“Our children have regained their confidence after coming to the centre” Said Mrs. H A Varuni, whose 9 year old daughter Denethmi is a regular attendee
of the centre. “ they were so worried of another tsunami coming . But they are not afraid anymore” 
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