Page 99 - Hemas_Piyawara_Book
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Humbled and privileged are we as senior Playing a proactive role and not being a silent observer, Minister Karaliyadda had
army officials to be part of this generous tactfully intervened to sort out this issue imposed by intransigent officials hiding
behind archaic thinking. Ambalnagar was the change-agent and also ‘teacher’ on
gesture. As we all know, early learning is the needs of children in remote villages as well as difficult areas. Of the 62 Piyawara
Preschools in the country, 39 are Community Preschools.
considered the ‘most powerful weapon’ While there are Community Preschools in Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, Moneragala,
which can change society. Ampara and Gomare in Kandy, in the heart of the business capital of Colombo
is the latest one under construction in the under-served and congested area of
Wanathamulla. Some of the preschools in the north are managed by teachers who are
Major General Nandana Udawatta rehabilitated cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who are armed
Then Commander, Kilinochchi Security Forces Hqrs.
with Diplomas in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD). They are paid by
the Civil Defence Force.
The Ambalnagar Community Preschool, meanwhile, is now the very heart of a bustling
In a reflection of the location of the village where the midwife from the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office is a regular
visitor to ensure the well-being of mothers and children. Rural banks and businesses
preschool, the little ones are guided are flourishing here.
towards tending vegetable plots. We are It was also at Ambalnagar that in December 2011, the spirit of the season of gift-giving
growing brinjal, ladies’ fingers, tomato and inclusivity through the ‘Be an Angel’ Project was initiated by the Hemas Group
and implemented by the army to the joy of children and parents.
and green chillie, while the garden is Off-the-beaten track in Vavuniya is impoverished Salalihini-gama, Bogaswewa, where
also dotted with fruit trees such as delum the Community Preschool attracts children from several surrounding villages. Where
(pomegranate), ambarella, mango and once the village only boasted of a single petti-kade (a boutique made of planks), there is
now much development along with permanent homes made of brick.
jam fruit. It was relatively more recently in 2019 that the remote Walagampura Community
Preschool was set up in the Uhana area in the Ampara district.
R.M. Ramya Chandrani
Teacher at Walagampura Community Preschool Walagampura is pastoral with the 600 families into paddy and chena (slash-and-burn)
cultivations. The chena cultivations include vegetables and bada-iringu (corn).
“The preschool I started back in 1985 was a katu-mati (wattle-and-daub) one but with
Piyawara’s input we raised it to a different level,” says Walagampura teacher R.M.
Ramya Chandrani, pointing out that it provides a solid foundation for children to step
out into the bigger world of school and life. It is hands-on engagement with the little
ones strengthened through constant parental interaction.
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