Actionaid

srilanka

Dreaming of an ambitious future

Prasad is not afraid of the sea anymore. Prasad, 15 years old, lives with his family near Wenamula in Hikkaduwa. The village, 400 metres in-land, was washed away by 10 meters high tidal waves. Sixty-two people from the village died and many of their bodies were never found. Most of the houses were destroyed. That day, December 26, 2004, he and his family were close to death. I went with my family to the beach. We saw the sea coming and we ran away, I climbed up a palm tree. Luckily all of us are alive today.

Right after the tsunami, Siyath Foundation, ActionAid partner in western Galle district in Sri Lanka, set up ten Children's Activity Centres in tsunami affected areas to provide a friendly space where children, after school time, could meet, play and engage in recreational and cultural activities expressing their feelings, regaining their confidence and enhancing their inner talents through debates, drawing, dancing, creative writing, sports and other cultural activities.

Prasad, like other 30 or 40 children more, goes almost every day after school to Wenamula's child activity centre, which in the morning is a pre-school for 10 kids supported by ActionAid. Coming to the centre has been very good for me and all of my friends. I love to come here because I can improve my education, help younger students and involve in many activities. And when I come here I completely forget of tsunami.

According to Nayama, one of the teachers of this centre in Wenamula, that is true. Some times they speak about the tsunami, but very little. They are really busy organising their activities and playing. And actually they are, as Prasad confirms. Everyday we have an agenda with a series of activities drafted by ourselves. One of my roles is to assure we follow our plans and include new ideas and activities for entertainment and learning.

Talented elder students like Prasad support youngsters in some school subjects, mainly in Sinhala and maths, and play an important role in the day-to-day activities of these centres where everyday is different. I like environmental work like gardening because it is very important for our lives, he assures. But above all, I love cricket. He would like to be a professional cricketer like Sanath Jayasuriya, one of the best batsmen in the Sri Lankan national team. Though he plays cricket with his friends, he dreams of playing a real cricket match with another team from neighbouring child activity centre.

Children love big gatherings, meeting more children from other places. Yes, we hope to organise that match soon, Nayama says. They love to be together, learn together and play together. Here they have the freedom to decide on what activities they want to involve and this sharing instils a social mind-set on them, which is very important for their future, Nayama assures.

Prasad is happy. As agreed by the group, the real cricket match is one of the new proposals on Prasad and friends' agenda.