Five hundred tsunami-affected youngsters are a step further down the road to recovery thanks to a Children's Market organised this weekend by the Siyath foundation, a partner of ActionAid International-Sri Lanka.
The children, aged between 6 and 14 years, from 20 villages in Ambalangoda, brought vegetables from their home gardens and posed as traders in a bid to bring people together for a fun day out, and to learn some wider lessons about life.
The market was held in Kodagama, a small village in Ambalangoda where 30 people died and most families lost their homes in the tsunami. Visitors, mainly friends and relatives of the children, came from across Ambalangoda, with a few from far as Colombo.
It was not only a place to sell vegetables. Children entertained the customers with songs and pictures. And there was a special treat as theatre producer, Dharma Samaranaike, staged one of her award winning plays. "I've no words to describe my happiness I got by making the kids happy," said Dharma.
The Children's Market forms part of a national education campaign by ActionAid and partners to help tsunami-affected children return to school. Education is a crucial pillar in ActionAid's approach to helping families in getting back to normal life after an emergency and in developing greater confidence to face the future.
The education campaign has two main objectives: "We know that many children drop out of school after a disaster due to pressure on the family, so the first objective is to get all children to school and make them enjoy the school," says Saroj Dash from ActionAid Sri Lanka.
"At the same time, the school must be fit to receive the children. This means a safe building and a holistic school curriculum as well as up to date teacher training and managing the school in a way that involves the community."
"Civil society has an important role to play in ensuring children's right to a decent education. Parents should participate in identifying teaching methods that put children's needs first. NGOs working with civil society can help make this happen", adds Kamala Peiris, an educationist and charismatic founder of the Siyath Foundation.
"Many children are traumatized after the tsunami so it is important to have a psychosocial element woven in. You cannot teach it as a lesson in schools, it's not a formal subject. Children must experience it. The Kids Market is organised with that intention. The feeling of togetherness experienced at this fair will stay with them long after the market stalls have been packed up.
"And it helps children to understand and respect the daily efforts by their parents in providing for the family," a need identified by the Siyath foundation in their regular discussions with tsunami-affected children.
"They have got so used to receiving goods from foreigners, NGOs and other relief providers in the wake of the tsunami disaster" says Kamala.
In organising the market, Kamala may also have had one eye on December?s World Trade Organisation Summit: "With trade such a force shaping the world today and trade rules such a contentious issue, this is an opportunity for children to experience market forces at a micro level. It is a start in understanding how a local market place is connected to a much bigger trade network, nationally and globally", she explains.
She goes on to reveal a wider vision: "Ultimately we all need to appreciate the importance of fair competition, and to realise that we can come together to make our voices heard, bring about real change and make this planet a better place for everyone."
For the children, dressing up like their parents and selling vegetables in the market for the day was something new and lots of fun. "I'm so happy to be here with my friends and to sell things to our elders," said 11 year old Ranil.
