Arts
Young Sri Lankan voices at Solutions Summit in Stockholm
For the first time in their lives, Mannapperuma Mudiyanselage Tharushika Sewmini and Herathmudiyanselage Chamindu Rashmika Herath from Nawagaththegama, Puttalam saw snow in Stockholm, Sweden. Their eyes light up as they recount the fun they had in the snow.
Sewmini and Chamindu: At a preparatory workshop during the summit
Sewmini and Chamindu were in Stockholm for the first ‘Agenda 2030 for Children: End Violence Solutions Summit’ which aims to advance the work of exceptional teams already developing innovative solutions that address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The summit on February 14 and 15, 2018 brought together different individuals and groups including governments, ambassadors from Pathfinder countries, UN officials, representatives of the private sector, civil society members such as academics, youth delegates, and members of religious groups from 67 countries. The participants renewed their commitment to end violence against children by 2030 which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target. Many children from all over the globe shared their experiences as well as solutions for ending violence against children. Sewmini and Chamindu’s participation was sponsored by World Vision Sri Lanka, an international aid agency.
Studying for her A’Ls, Sewmini, who is 18 hopes to enter the Law Faculty. A passionate advocate of child rights, she says ,“I can see the issues that children face in terms of physical violence and I want to stop them.” She joined a children’s society when she was in Grade 5 and was a member of the National Child Council, Secretary of the District Child Council (Puttalam district),Chairperson of ‘Sivdahara’ Child Federation (Nawagaththegama division),Chairperson of Village Children’s Society (Tharangahawewa) and an active member of the CAY (Child and Youth Research Group).
Sewmini speaks about how there are good and bad punishments and how she wants to teach the good ways. Elaborating that teachers hit children because they themselves have been hit by their teachers when they were younger, she believes that by implementing new methods, you would be able to break this cycle. She suggests deterrent punishments: if you are late, you should clean the garden or bathroom.
Chamindu: Dreams of becoming an announcer
At the summit Sewmini took part in the panel discussion for corporal punishment, giving her thoughts as well as meeting top officials such as the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Marta Santos Pais, about the issues that Sri Lanka specifically faces and the research she has done with the CAY team on the drug issue in Sri Lanka.
Through World Vision, Chamindu, 14, is realising his dreams of becoming an announcer/ presenter who travels from place to place for child and environmental rights.
He is a Kandyan dancer who is also heavily involved with the 8-member CAY Research team. Chairperson of the children’s club at Koonkadawela, he had participated in a leadership camp and kept going for more since he found them interesting. Through this he was chosen for the CAY Team.
At the Solutions Summit, Chamindu spoke about the experiences children have, especially in relation to corporal punishment at home. He raised pertinent questions, asking- “I would like to ask the authorities in the Solutions Summit: what are the mechanisms that the Global Partnership has in place to ensure that countries like Sri Lanka will #ENDviolence against children?”
As a result of their contributions to the Solutions Summit, a positive parent manual for Sri Lanka sponsored by the Swedish Government with World Vision is in the pipeline.
Sewmini: Hopes to study Law
Chamindu and Sewmini were extremely excited to find that the friends they had made while taking part in the EVAC (Ending Violence Against Children) workshop in Canada in 2017 were also there at the Summit. Chamindu recounted how he and his roommate became friends regardless of the language barriers. Both Chamindu and Sewmini are extremely grateful to World Vision and their mentor, Child Protection Advisor of World Vision Kanishka Rathnayake for giving them this opportunity to take their beliefs and hopes to a wider audience.
World Vision’s child participation advisor Mario Stephano said he was so proud of the young leaders. “As I always say and repeat, they keep on showing us how their voices can be so strong, making a big change in their lives and the life of all the other children and young people around the globe, and how their participation can be compelling and influential. They just need the space and opportunities to make their voices heard.’’