Towards a safe and caring community
View(s):How aware are you of the world you live in?
A group of 10 and 11 year olds at the Overseas School of Colombo were tasked with finding out more about some of Sri Lanka’s most important issues. The result? Nine projects on topics that varied from animal rights to poverty, with colourful art and mathematical analysis thrown in.
The Funday Times spoke to each group about their project; the topic they chose as a group was close to their hearts and they also carried out what the school calls ‘action’ (a community service initiative related to their topic).
Cruelty to Dogs
Did you know that there are thousands of canines roughing it out on the streets around the island?
This group focussed on organizations that work in the area of animal rights, finding out more about what they did. They were informed that sterilization was one of the kindest things you could do for these dogs to keep them safe and invulnerable. The group volunteered with several animal welfare organizations as well.
Environment
The Millennium Development Goals expire this year, and the UN will introduce 17 Sustainable Development Goals in their place. Sustainable development refers very simply to the ability to grow as an economy while protecting the environment and the needs of future generations. This group carried out research into water pollution and landfills, using the internet to contact organizations that were involved in the field.
Poverty
This group focussed on poverty in Sri Lanka and efforts to alleviate the situation for the thousands of people who live below the poverty line in our country. Through field visits and interviews they found out that these citizens often lived on only one meal a day, with young people dropping out of school due to lack of resources. They donated mosquito nets to one community and volunteered their time with a soup kitchen.
Dementia
It is estimated that more than 120 000 people in Sri Lanka live with dementia, a condition characterized by severe memory decline. This group worked primarily with the Lanka Alzheimer Foundation,
a non-profit body that works in the area of awareness and care for dementia patients and Cinnamon Care, a paying facility for such patients. They learnt that with proper care and attention it was possible to help dementia patients feel more secure and comfortable in their surroundings.
Shelter
The group’s primary focus was on what could be done to help those in our community who lacked access to proper shelter, a basic human right. They visited a well-known financially disadvantaged community, and spoke to households about their needs. Lack of access to electricity and clean drinking water were major issues. The group also spoke to the Ministry of Housing and found out that poverty (along with natural disasters) was a major contributor to poor living conditions.
Human-Elephant Conflict
Shrinking habitats for elephants and expanding human populations lead to an increasing number of conflict between the two groups, with around 50 humans and 100 elephants killed each year. The group focussed on this conflict and additionally on turtles, finding out that turtle hatcheries were not always beneficial to the animals.
Abandoned Children
Working primarily with Sarvodaya, this group found out that many mothers who abandoned their children did so due to conditions of extreme poverty and family background. They were surprised to learn that abandonment was not a black and white issue as they had previously thought, with many young mothers doing so in order to secure what they feel is a better future for their child. They also volunteered with Sarvodaya and interviewed members who had been abandoned as children but with help and care have made a name for themselves in their communities.
War
This group chose to use a significant number of visual aids for their project. One was a model of
Sri Lanka, which mapped major points of the conflict. They spoke to a human rights lawyer who shared how the scope of her work has changed with the end of the conflict. They also made donations to families that had been affected by the war.
Women’s Rights
Working closely with Emerge Lanka, this group raised over two lakh through the sale of jewellery at the Good Market to help women in need. They also interviewed prominent female political figure Rosy Senanayake and women’s
rights activist Jeszima Ismail.
All the groups shared that the internet was an excellent tool to find out more information on the topics they had chosen, and to contact organizations that worked in those fields. With information literally at your fingertips it’s so much easier to be more aware of the world around you and lend a helping hand. Education is key to making our community a safe and caring one for everyone, whether they are two or four-legged. Remember that no matter how small-every action counts!