Cries of “When is the next camp? We don’t want to go home!” were heard all across the camp grounds.
Undaunted by the threat of inclement weather and as a result having to shift the venue thrice prior to the camp to higher ground, the Unity Mission Team set out in faith for the third Ekamuthu Oray Makkal Unity Camp to Mannar from December 27 to 30, 2011.
Their faith was rewarded and the 426 students, 46 teachers and 30 volunteers who participated in the camp enjoyed bright sunshine for the entire duration of the camp.
The Unity Mission Team started off following the end of the war in 2009 when a group of professionals, working on a voluntary basis on an inter-faith platform reached out to children who were at Menik Farm with milk food and school books from June to September 2009.
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| Participants went away with memories of an enriching experience. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe |
Following this the team provided small scale infrastructure support to help re-build school facilities, provided school books and footwear and conducted a large scale medical camp at Kayts and Viduthalthivu. At the end of 2010, identifying the need to bring together children from different parts of the country, with the aim of fostering unity, reconciliation and healing, the first Unity Camp was held in Colombo, followed by the second camp in Mullaithivu in June 2011.
The third camp held at Muslim Madhya Maha Vidhyalaya in Erikulampiti, Mannar proved to be a success indeed as they were able to “foster further unity, enhance reconciliation, learn to accept each other and have mutual respect,” said Bertal Pinto Jayawardena, Coordinator of the Camp.
The Mannar Camp saw the participation of young children from Kayts, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Madhu, Mannar, Kandy, Kegalle, Ratnapura and Colombo. These youths are student leaders and students with high potential identified by the respective schools and zonal educational departments.
The youths were divided into 20 groups for the purpose of carrying out the various activities ensuring that each group had both Sinhala and Tamil students.
“By the end of the camp, the Tamil students had learned a few words in Sinhala and the Sinhala students a few words in Tamil that enabled them to carry out a conversation,” said Arthiga Ramasamy, a member of the organizing committee.
Leadership and personal capacity building being the main focus of the camp, every opportunity was taken to inculcate these skills in the students with various seminars and workshops being held on the topic. The group leaders were chosen by the organizers while the deputy group leaders were chosen by the group, thus giving the opportunity of leadership to 80 children from around the country.
Peals of laughter, tumultuous applause and enthusiastic cheering filled the camp grounds as the students enjoyed singing, music, dance, drama, oratory and sports competitions with the finalists being chosen for the championship competitions.
At the oratory competitions held in all three languages under the topic ‘My Dream for My Future’, the youngsters made touching speeches. The fact that nothing can be achieved without team work was emphasized through all the activities.
“50 to 100 children maintained pin drop silence as they eagerly absorbed everything taught to them,” enthused Shyamala Pinto Jayawardena who conducted the arts and crafts workshop. “Superb leadership was seen on the part of the leaders who managed to help others as well as do their own work,” she added.
The various activities proved to be an effective means of exposing the high level of talent and potential among the students who performed exceptionally in the various competitions despite the short notice given to them.
It was not only the students who went away with memories of an enriching and fun-filled experience. The teachers from different parts of the country were able to interact as they engaged in a healthy discussion under the topic ‘Creative teaching; how to deal with problems’ at a teacher training workshop conducted by Shyamala. An important issue that came up during the course of the discussion was the difficulty in maintaining the attention of the children traumatized by the effects of war, who found it hard to concentrate on their work.
“The teachers are also from the same situation and it is great that they have come thus far,” explained Shyamala.
The Unity Mission Team was able to render a great service in collaboration with the Asia Foundation books division, by providing valuable books on a range of topics to facilitate higher education in 29 schools in Mannar and Madhu selected for this purpose. These books would be used for reference libraries. This follows camp two, when 14 schools in Mullaitivu and Killinochchi received similar support. Teacher training material and books were also given to the teachers by the Asia Foundation.
The team were appreciative of Governor of the Northern Province, Secretary for Education, Culture and Sports Northern Province, Mr. Illangovan, Zonal directors of Education of the Vanni sector and the Sri Lankan Army.
“The Army provided a strong and silent support in terms of ground logistical services and meals on a purely voluntary basis,” said Bertal adding that the Army personnel were not in uniform as per the request of the organizers in order to create a further relaxed environment.
The feedback has been positive indeed and it is no doubt that the students were reluctant to go back home. Strong friendships were built all round.
“I received calls from four sets of parents who shared that right throughout the new year, they witnessed their children giving and receiving calls from their new friends in the North,” smiles Bertal.
Mr. Hinnayathulla, Deputy Director of Education, in charge of English language development, Mannar education district and coordinator assigned by the Northern Province Educational Ministry was full of praise for the Unity Camp.
“The talents of the children were brought out and the children are very happy,” he said adding that the principals of the schools have requested that another Unity Camp be held in the area.
Arthiga Ramasamy, who was also involved in the translating, spoke of the many calls she received from the children in the North who say that they draw much happiness from the memories of the camp.
“It was a lovely experience for me too and we feel we are one family,” she enthused. |
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