Page 38 - Hemas_Piyawara_Book

Fluent in the four languages of Sinhala, Tamil, English and Malay, Haroon often acted
as a mediator among different factions putting pressure on the workers, “keeping the
rapport” and maintaining peace.

“All the challenges were worth it, for we were engaging in humanitarian work,” he says.

When the Hemas Group wished to set up a Piyawara preschool in a tiny hamlet with a
sprinkling of takarang-homes in the north, officials had been adamant that the children
should not be given tables and chairs. It was all to do with the stringent caste system
and fears that it would disturb the cultural status quo. The deeply distraught Hemas
team, however, had been vocal in their insistence that under the National Policy, all
children were equal whether from a so-called high or low caste.
The persistence of the Hemas Group had paid off and the very first ‘Community
Preschool’ had risen up where there was none before. With the preschool,
development had arrived in the village.

Following a decision by the MC to give land near the Jaffna MOH office to construct the Model Preschool, Earlier, health staff from the MOH office had given a wide berth to the village and Sri
the foundation stone was laid in 2003 (above). Soon after, the LTTE halted construction. Work had resumed Lanka’s public health system which boasts of excellent childcare for all, had bypassed
after a meeting with MC officials and parents (below).
the little ones. Now, however, it has seeped into this village, with the routine weighing
and health checks of the children taking place like in every other part of the country
along with the setting up of a small maternal clinic.

More so, banks too have ‘found’ this village, breaking human barriers such as caste and
infusing life through it.

Similar obstacles of caste had cropped up from the east in the early 2000s, when
preparations were underway to set up a Piyawara preschool. Bearing buns and sweets,
the Hemas team had arrived in the area, only to be told that the children, once again
without desks and chairs but seated on the floor, should be given their food on pieces
of newspaper, as they were untouchables.
“No, we certainly will not do that,” the Hemas team had been categorical. Placing the
food on paper plates they had carried with them, the team had interacted with the
Haroon, meanwhile, had seen many skirmishes between the LTTE and the people in children while they ate.
the east and had to linger because the roads in a town in the east had to be cleared of
mines. He had to deal with reluctant worker-gangs due to threats and other influences. Just beyond that village, the Hemas team had been compelled to undergo ‘cleansing’
In one incident, the LTTE had allegedly demanded some building materials from the of the hands and feet with kaha-wathura (turmeric-mixed water) before continuing on
contractor who had refused to comply, leading to some trouble. their way.

30 Hemas Piyawara - A Journey to the Future