Navajeevana: News and events: World Children's Day 2010

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Home > News and events > Navajeevana celebrates World Children's Day

Navajeevana celebrates World Children's Day

October 2010

Universal Children’s Day 2010 celebrated by children in Tangalla, Hambantota District, was a great success! This day, the 1st of October was planned by children, for children from all walks of life. This event will remain in the memory of the general public and children who took part, for many months, and many years. Children at Navajeevana

The day started at 8.00am with a parade in which schools from the area, school for the deaf and blind, orphaned and tsunami affected children, children in probation and child care and over 100 from Navajeevana’s schools for special children participated in a very impressive display of inclusion and focus on Child Rights for the first time.

The parade started from the town center with children carrying 2 Banners, demonstrating Child Rights at the head of the parade. The Police Department guided the parade through the busy main road; Hambantota-Matara until it entered the Navajeevan premises. All the children of the participating schools showed their talent in music and dance taking every one by surprise. The onlookers and people who were passing by stood by the way-side, took photographs, and encouraged the children by clapping, waving hands etc. It was great fun, as well as a solace to watch children performing brilliantly with pride and courage. Many children carried posters on Child Rights designed and painted by themselves. This may have created at least some degree of awareness among the adults whose consciousness and sensitivity matters a lot in protecting child rights. All banners, posters, placards carried by the children in the parade were displayed in the Navajeevana grounds to be observed by the guests.

The colorful parade was welcomed at the entrance of Navajeevana by children of the Organizing Committee. Children, specially the younger ones were tired at the end of the parade and thanks to the Police Department they were treated to refreshments of their choice.

The activities identified for the day included the following:

Hoisting of flags- The National flag by a student, provincial flag by Assistant Divisional Secretary Tangalle, Police flag by Mr. Neil Daluwatta, D.I.G. Southern Province and the Navajeevana flag by Mrs. Kumarini Wickramasuriya, Chairperson of Navajeevana accompanied by a special child.
Lighting the oil lamp: A special oil lamp made by police officers for this day was lit by children and special invitees.
Cultural Performance:A grand stage was set for the children to show their talents including compering . After the welcome address that was done by a student , staged the cultural items.The Puja Dance and the Peacock Dance performed by children with special needs caught the attention of over 1000 spectators and loud cheering and applause given at the end of the performance indicated how happy they were.
All selected art works from the art competion held a week before Children’s Day was exhibited in the Navajeevana Training Auditorium.
Fun Activities: The Navajeevana premises was turned into a children’s Park with over 700 children running around filled with joy and trying to participate in some fun activities of their choice.
What we saw happening ,was beyond any one’s expectation. The way in which disabled children mingled with the non- disabled children, on equal terms was quite intriguing and astonished many of us.
Cadjan Hut: There was a hut made from bamboo and palm leaves, like we use to make in the old days for children to play in, balloon game, painting flags and making friendship bands,etc.
‘Wish Tree’: This was made for children to write their wish or their message to the world on a card and hang it on this tree. There were a lot of valuable and interesting messages ranging from child rights, lack of parental love, child abuse to current education system in Sri Lanka. Each child was given a take-away gift donated by well wishers.
Those children who took part in games and competitions were given prizes , while others were given a certificate for participation. Several competitions ,such as art, oratory,debating and sports competitions were orgnized by the Officer-in-Charge of the Police Stations in Tangalle Division , a week before the Universal Children’s Day in collaboration with the Department of Education.
While all these were going on at Navajeevana there were some activities organized at the Tangalle Beach called “Parai vella”. These included Swimming, Beach Volley ball, Running on the beach and other fun activities that filled the day.