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ArunodayaArunodaya wrefKdaoh mUNzhjak; QuartlyQuartly NNewsews CollectionCollection I n t e r C o m m u n i t y S t u d e n t E x c h a n g e P r o g r a m m e ISSN 1800-2935 A new day is dawning. Gentle sunbeams are glittering on the mornings dewdrops. Rays of morning sunshine flow across the mountains, Highlands and plains, a delight to the eye. Just like this dawn flowing unhindered by pinnacles and planes, compassion, understanding and harmony was fostered in the minds of school children from schools Islandwide through a programme held the Inter community student exchange. programme by the centre for policy alternatives as part of it's peace building outreach work in 2006. School children transformed their grounds to a garden of flowers of all hues and shapes during the three day camps Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Outreach Unit ArunodayaArunodaya 2 I n t e r C o m m u n i t y S t u d e n t E x c h a n g e P r o g r a m m e Arunodaya Quarterly Journal First Published in 2007 ISSN Photographs - Supun Madusanketha Computer Layout - Lithma Graphics Phone - 011-2708377 e-mail - [email protected] Printer - Globe Printing Works Phone - 011-2329739 Published by - Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) Outreach Unit Arunodaya is a periodical published by the Outreach Unit of Centre for Policy Alternatives. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) is an independent, non-partisan organisation that focuses primarily on issues of governance and conflict resolution. Formed in 1996 in the firm belief that the vital contribution of civil society to the public policy debate is in need of strengthening, CPA is committed to programmes of research and advocacy through which public policy is critiqued, alternatives identified and disseminated. Arunodaya contains a fraction of experiences of Advanced Level students and teachers who participated in the Inter Community Student Exchange Programme 2006 Views expressed in Arunodaya are not necessarily those of the organisation or its Board of Directors. For further information Centre for Policy Alternatives Outreach Unit 32/7, Flower Road, Colombo 07. Phone - 001-2370801-4/Fax - 011-2370802 E-mail - [email protected] Web – www.cpalanka.org Centre for Policy Alternatives ArunodayaArunodaya I n t e r C o m m u n i t y S t u d e n t E x c h a n g e P r o g r a m m e 3 Contents Birth of an idea: the Student Exchange Programme 5 Memories of three beautiful days 7 Building a Society with tolerance towards diversity 10 Student Camp at Bloomfield Maha Vidyalaya, Maskeliya 11 Student Camp at Zarniya Tamil College, Badulla 22 Student Camp at Highland College, Hatton 33 Student Camp at Galahitiyagoda College, Ampara 36 Student Camp at Karagaskada College, Kandy 39 Student Camp at Hindu Tamil College, Kurunegala 41 Student Camp at Walisinghe Harischandra College, Anuradhapura 42 Student Camp at Zahira College, Anuradhapura 45 The Mirror Wall 46 Centre for Policy Alternatives ArunodayaArunodaya 4 I n t e r C o m m u n i t y S t u d e n t E x c h a n g e P r o g r a m m e Memories of brotherhood.... Centre for Policy Alternatives ArunodayaArunodaya I n t e r C o m m u n i t y S t u d e n t E x c h a n g e P r o g r a m m e 5 Birth of an Idea The Student Exchange Programme Tudor de Silva, Dr. D. Nesiah, Dr. V. Ameerdeen, Mr. Sunanda Deshapriya and Ms. Shanthi Sachithanandan took part as the Resource Persons of the The first step of this programme Programme. was a Teacher training workshop The teachers who participated for th st held from 27 -31 of August 2006 at the Programme had a unanimous Kandy Hotel Topas under the theme stance against war. It was also clear of "Respecting Diversity, Improving that they voiced their opinion in Social Attitudes & Co-Existence support of devolution of power as the Among Students" solution to the ongoing national A group of 100 comprising issue. Principals and Teachers from At this workshop, Student different provinces, belonging to Exchange Programmes were different ethnic groups participated proposed as a path to mould in the above Programme Student’s attitudes under the theme representing 49 schools in total. "Towards a Society with tolerance Teachers expert knowledge in for diversity" moulding attitudes of future The third session of the workshop generations was taken in to was for drafting logistics of a consideration as the key focus in programme which would achieve planning this Programme. these goals in a effective manner. So Mr. S.G. Punchihewa, Dr. the three day student exchange Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Dr. schedules were worked out & time Ariyaratne Athugala, Professor K. tables & logistics sorted & agreed. Centre for Policy Alternatives ArunodayaArunodaya 6 I n t e r C o m m u n i t y S t u d e n t E x c h a n g e P r o g r a m m e The proposed Line-up ‘pottu’ on the forehead or by 5) ‘Sharamadana’ Activities – garlanding/ For Muslims – Responsibility of deciding the Day One saying ‘Assalam Ale Kum’ in the work which needs to be done and supply of tools lies with 1) Arrival & Welcome @ 2.00 p.m traditional way keeping the two those respective schools a) Registration of participants hands together) 6) Tea Break b) Encouragement to interact as b) Escorting students to the pen-pals prior to participation to Hostels 7) Field Trip create a better impact towards 8) Lunch understanding each other c) Inviting guests to the main hall and treating them with 9) A lecture on ‘improving students’ c) Once a teacher introduces a refreshments attitudes’ student, even though students may not know each other they d) Holding the meeting with the 10) Sports activities can interact via mail. invitees e) Introducing and 11) Interval d) A Pen–Pal could welcome the getting to know each-other 12) Dinner other at their arrival to the f) Interval respective school. There could 13) Cultural Show be 'Guest- Friends' as well. But, g) Agreeing & Appointing a Team Day Three at the second exchange Leader and making the line-up session, only one person should 1) Wake up of activities participate. 2) Physical Fitness Programme & h) Screening of Short-Films Reviewing the previous day 2) Welcome i) Dinner 3) Religious observances a) Keeping in mind the different nationalities and cultures (i.e – 4) Breakfast Day Two If the Programme Venue is a 5) Planting a memorial tree Sinhala School – welcoming the 1) Wake up participants by offering beetle 2) Physical Fitness Programme & 6) Tea Break leaves/ If the Programme Venue Reviewing the previous day 7) Presenting Group Discussions is a Tamil School - welcoming 3) Religious observances the participants by marking a 8) Evaluating and Reviewing 4) Breakfast 9) Saying ‘Good Bye’ The Chilly Mountainous Breeze Light of the moon in the night Does not connect The North The South The Mountains Neither bothered of racial spirits The water of falls Does not care about low or high pinnacles Nature is equal to all of us Like the wind – let us blow Like the moonlight – soothingly cold Let us mark the end Of the battle Students in a delightful mood at the Students Camp held at the Chandana Pushpakumara Galahitiyagoda Maha Vidyalaya in Ampara Am/Uhana Maha Vidyalaya Centre for Policy Alternatives ArunodayaArunodaya I n t e r C o m m u n i t y S t u d e n t E x c h a n g e P r o g r a m m e 7 Tamil College – Passara Inter Community Student Exchange Programme This was the first Student Camp of the Inter Community Student Exchange Programme organised by the Centre for Policy Alternatives. One objective of the Programme was to take a team of students from Auradhapura Walisinghe Harischandra College to the Passara Tamil College, which MARKING A POTTU would provide Sinhala at the Student Camp held at Passara Tamil College, the students of the school giving a Student's an opportunity to see traditional welcome to their fellow students from Anuradhapura Walisinghe Harischandra Vidyalaya. and experience the lifestyle of estate sector Tamil students. This was also an opportunity for the Tamil students to share Everlasting memories of experiences with their fellow students who has lived and been brought-up in a three beautiful days completely different cultural atmosphere. A new day was dawning. Mist was vanishing slowly while morning There were seven Student's sunshine was spreading across the top of the mountains. Groups in this first Students of Passara Maha Vidyalaya were eagerly spreading across Programme. They were given prepairing to welcome their fellow colleagues of Anuradhapura Harischandra the opportunity to perform their Maha Vidyalaya. It was a novel experience for the students of Passara talents by engaging in various Maha Vidyalaya to welcome a group of fellow colleagues whom they haven’t kinds of activities and the met or even heard till that moment. opportunity to experience In a traditional welcome, according to the Hindu customs, a red ‘pottu’ estate sector Tami people’s was placed on each invitee student’s forehead, followed by less privileged lifestyle as well serving tea. as to better understand the Mr. Manel Ratnayake, President of Uva Provincial Council and Mr.