'Walk for the Child' by Gateway

Gaily decorated floats, an elephant and ponies, were all part of the grand parade celebrating the child at the Gateway College charity walk.

Gateway closed its tenth anniversary celebrations with 'Walk for the Child.' "Our anniversary celebrations began earlier this year with a carnival which was purely a fun event." said Dr. Harsha Alles, Director, Gateway Group. "So we wanted our closing celebrations to give a special message to society and we decided that children's issues will be our theme. This is a charity walk, the proceeds of which will go to two deserving causes related to children – the Children's Heart Project of Sri Lanka and the Maithri Lama Nivasa."

Each class expressed its creativity by a theme in dress, décor and music. While one decided on a Hawaiian theme with bright, printed skirts and shorts with music to match, another went on a 'pink and blue' theme, highlighting their hair in these colours and painting their faces with hearts to symbolize the Children's Heart Project of Sri Lanka. Still another dressed as pirates with cutlasses and all, while one class decided on the 60's theme of love and peace. Each class carried banners with appealing messages about children, which they had created. Gateway College prefects enlivened the walk with their very own float.

The walk started at Borella and finished at Gateway College in Rajagiriya which was a hive of activity with street dramas and an exhibition by the primary school titled 'A Child's World.’

Three street dramas created by the students of the school, focused on different issues that affect children.

"The beauty of these dramas is that they were scripted and improvised by the children themselves," said Sashi De Costa, Gateway's drama teacher. "In short they are stories by children for children and adults."