Page 24 - Hemas_Piyawara_Book

From around the country, there are fond memories of the very first training programme residential course, they underwent training which held them in good stead when they
of 2002. For Chandrani Welagedera who was the teacher at the Thanne Handiya went back to their preschools.
Preschool with 80 tiny tots, in the hilly terrain of the Matale MC, the training was
“ithamath visheshai” (very special). She pays tribute to Jayantha Sir for the all-round knowledge he shared with them. He
was the key figure behind the programme.
Having taught 20 years before the training, she realized to her surprise that the Hemas
Group was not expecting anything from them in return. There were no contra-deals. Focusing on the “unique” aspect of the training, Chandrani says they got in-
depth knowledge on setting up a safe learning environment for the children and
Earlier, any institution that got in touch with them “apen yamak ganna hithuwe – how to make parents aware on what their children needed to be equipped with,
paththarayak ho sellam-baduwak vikuna ganna; lamaige banku ginum ganna. Apiva for their life’s journey. Usually, parents pressurized preschool teachers to drum
pavichchi kara”. (They always wanted something – to sell a paper or toy; secure in lessons with the goal of preparing the children for Grade 1 of a regular school.
children’s bank accounts. We were used.)
“What we learnt was a different concept – how much the young ones would learn from
Chandrani says that preschool teachers’ contributions were not considered to be simple play (the sellam midula), practical work, joint activity with other children and
of value then. With the training, they were given all the hands-on knowledge they through Lama Mithuru Samaja (Child-Friendly Associations),” she recalls.
needed with regard to the handling of small children and also what to impart to them.
Preschools all over the country reached a similar standard and came on par due to The training and connections of that residential course held far away from home in
this training. Colombo, put all those from the north, south, west and east on ekama jalayak (one
network) which is still active.
“I had pothe-pathe denuma (book knowledge) from an Open University qualification.
But the practical skills were imparted by the training I underwent in 2002,” she says, J.K. Jayanthi Pushpa was looking after 40 children at the Sirimangala Preschool in the
explaining that katta kagena (with hard work) into the night during the extensive southern coastal town of Walpola, Matara, when she underwent the training which was
prayojanavath (useful) to greatly improve the quality of teaching through fun activity.
The training was also an enjoyable time where everyone worked with suhadath-wayen,
beda-hada gena (in cooperation, sharing and caring).

From the north had come Selladorai Wasantha and Usha Nandini who were managing
the Jaffna Preschool, adjacent to the revered Nallur Kovil. Meeting them in Jaffna
recently, the language barrier is overcome as they have brought a friend who acts as
the impromptu interpreter.
On the way to Colombo for the training back in 2002, they had faced a crisis when
the van they were travelling in ran off the road and crashed into a coconut tree at
Puttalam. They recall how the team in Colombo responded with much concern when
they heard of their mishap from which they were lucky to escape with minor injuries.

The staff at the closest Puttalam Hospital were on strike and it was Jayantha Sir and
his team who got them discharged from there and treated at a private hospital in
Colombo with the expenses being borne by the Hemas Group, after which they joined
the training programme.

Active participation by teachers in the first training programme in Malabe in 2002.
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Hemas Piyawara - A Journey to the Future