Fledgling June 2014 Quarterly publication carefromuk@gmail.com
Caring calendar was never busy as it has been during the first half of this year. It has become the defining period for CARE in every sense, since it set foot in Lanka 2010-1. Note, our caring comparisons are always with ourselves and not in competition with anyone else.
How did we come to this view?
Firstly, Care feels it has truly set root on the ground in the few rural areas it has attached itself as we observe,
1. The sense of close participation of the local communities in its programs. 2. The greatly satisfying levels in the quality of its programs. 3. Better organisation and administration on the ground, and 4. Clear understanding of CARE values and greater accountability from those working in its projects.
Secondly, voluntary, spontaneous participation from a few dependable new comers to the fold. This resulted in the three get-togethers come fundraising events in London. Thirdly perhaps more importantly, feeling of responsibility among the CARE members on the ground, which allows us even to cautiously suggest the formation of a CARE Team.
Fourthly, the expansion of CARE activities in geographical and intellectual areas. In other words, there is a sense of perception of an evolution of CARE Concept, hence our hope and optimism. Let us hope and work even harder for clear vision, consciousness, and conviction so that the second half of the year help us to drive the real meaning for our presence on the ground.
This optimism on the ground allow us to be expansive in our appeal for more participation.
CARE Notes Manipuram, once known as Kelluthimalai is a remote village in the Paduvankarai area of Eastern Province. Paduvankarai was the Eastern part of the de facto state under the now defunct LTTE. It is made up of Pallachennai, Manipuram Centre, and Katpaanai, three small settlements dating back to the 1950s.
Education: It now has a nursery, and Middle school for children up to 5 th
year, downgraded from 9 th Year school. Until CAREs involvement it did not have a maths, English or science teacher. After meeting the local parent body and village council CARE has recruited an English teacher, who will double up as a mentor for CARE Nurseries in the area. The High School for the entire area covering several villages is in Karadian Aaru, offering only arts courses at Advance level, which does not include even commerce or economics . The school is inadequate to deserve a science teacher, a rare stock for the Education Authorities. Naturally such valuable assets are held back for towines in Batticola and Chenkkaladi.
Economy: About 200 farmers cultivate rice between Manipuram and Karadian Aru twice a year. One entirely relying on the rain and other from the water tanks for irrigation.
Cattle raising and milk production are the other major part of the local economy. Milk is bought @ Rs 50 per litre by big companies like Nestle, which make huge profits by processing into other milk products. Local attempts to produce curd, yoghurt, etc. in factory condition were a failure. Fishing contribute very little, and local ponds and lakes provide bare minimum protein to the diet. The proximity of the sea and fresh water reservoirs nearby has so far have no bearing to the local economy or diet.
Local production is insufficient, and the locals seemed to have settled for a diet with little attention to vegetables. And local producers have severe marketing problem as they overwhelmed by imports from the huge farms in Pollanaruwa.
Rural villages are unlikely to economically benefit from peace dividend in the near future. Linking neighbouring villages closer to share educational and economic resources is the way forward. That means greater flexibility from the zonal and regional authorities agreeing in sharing and accounting for their human and other resources. This also argues for better transport links, perhaps subsidised by NGOs, and better contacts between villages.
Our village: Villages must be brought together
Manipuram vegetable farmer, Kayankkerni Fisher folks. How to improve their income and links? CARE WITH EXPECTATIONS CARE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
Two books published by ASATiC
experts at the Eastern University. It has also been an old style adventure for ASATiC researchers, who have sought and managed to meet, and interviewed elders of some of the tribes mentioned in the cornicles. What transpired during these interviews were also new materials, which will be added to the documents to be taken into consideration as part of the research conducted. To enable research the texts hitherto unknown to the historians were published as a book, as a consultation edition, without any alterations to the original, by ASATiC. Until this unique texts are revealed the only vamsa story has been the mahavamsa, on which the history of Lankan Tamils and Muslims also depends. Therefore, new claims in the texts verified by historians are bound to cause controversies, particularly if they parallel sense of the history told by Mahavamsa.
1. Ulaha Nachchiyar; History of Lanka and origins of Buddhism (Consulatation Edition)
Ulaha Nachchiya is a legendary figure, could have been easily confused with Samgamitha, thought to have brought Buddhism to Lanka. She is claimed to be the founder of Batticola. Her story is the backbone for Maddahalapu Manniyam by Nadarsa QC, Maddahalapu Tamilaham. However, neither Nadarasa nor any other historians had the privilege to the real texts and documents for reference, which are now in possession of ASATiC. The guardians of these ancient texts, believed in keeping them hidden from public knowledge. For several centuries, even during the British who actively searched and collected history, they kept these documents to themselves. It is then a huge change of heart to hand over their sacred texts to ASATiC. The trust and responsibility placed on ASATiC is heavy, and it has promise to ensure their great gesture that has generated academic excitement, is not misplaced. Realising the huge tasks ahead ASATiC has consulted the ways forward with the elder statesman of Lankan history, Prof. Pathmanathan, and are also in consultation with
Tribal Elders CARE WITH EXPECTATIONS CARE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
Ulaha Podiyar, assumed to be direct descendent of Ulaha Nachchiyar Kalinga Podiyar, traditional commander in chief Paddaiyadchchi Podiyar, leaders of the fighting clan Estern Province Vedda Leader Interviewing local elders of a Vedda community and recording their ancient language.
Book was the basis of the three training programs for more than 79 maths teachers selected by the Zonal Directors of Education in Batticola and Jaffna, all held in the Head offices of the respective zones.
CARE WITH EXPECTATIONS CARE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
2. Mental Maths (Teachers Edition) CARE Education has been from day one decided rural people deserve exactly the same standard of education as their well to do cousins in the towns and villages.
Then there is the question of how and what is taught in the class rooms, and for what purpose. CARE Education believes any education should be knowledge based and must have the respect for the village, area, region, province, etc.
Mathematics is a universal language, must be taught as it is to everyone. Therefore, it could not be simply learning the methods to achieve grades. Thinking Maths is different to Doing Maths, hence the need for Mental Maths to enable teachers as well as pupils to think and see maths without too much learning. Mental Maths is written in Tamil for these specific purposes. Written by Ravi Sundaralingam in Tamil for pupils up to the age of 14 is well received as a valuable and refreshingly new resource for teaching and learning by all concerned. Its exercises modelled on questions largely found in Maths Olympiad papers has the advantage of presenting more than one approach towards complete and comprehensive answers. Introducing Mental Maths Batti North Zone Office, Batticola
Jaffna Zone Office, Maruthanamaddam
Batti West Zone Office, Vavunitheivu What they said (3/79 Feedbacks at random) 1. ah/gz;zhfk; k.tp: ,d;iwajpdk; utp Re;juypq;fk; FOtpdu; fzpjghl Kf;fpaj;Jtk; gw;wpAk; khztu;fSf;F fzpjj;ij vt;thW ,yFtpy; fw;gpf;fyhk; vd;gJ gw;wpAk; gy El;gq;fis nra;J fhl;bAs;sdu;. ,t;thwhd nrayku;Tfs; vkJ gpuNjrj;jpw;F NkYk; Njitg;gLfpwJ. ,d;iwajpdk; eilngw;wJ kpfTk; FWfpa Neuk;. ,J NghjhJ. fpof;F khfhzj;jpy; ,tu;fsJ gzp Nghw;wj; jf;fjhFk;. NkYk; ,tu;fsJ gzp njhlu ,iwtid gpuhj;jpf;fpd;Nwd;.
Explaining the philosophy and methodology of CARE Education
In 38C under piercing Sun Lankan whether may be a worry for any Westerners. But to the north and east of the central mountains, where Tamil speaking communities have their homelands the same condition will feel harsher. The general talk among the Expats is about the conditions being too hot to handle. Then again we forget, for most of us the West was too cold to handle the first time. At least most of us with a bit of thinking behind our souls, we have learned the feeling and the preferences we make of the weather are relative, depending only on the decisions we want to make of our lives. Those of us enjoyed village-life cannot but recognise the East is still blessed with that life, which is unadulterated, with lands that stretch without any obstructions to the reach of eyes, and a daily rhythm of life that is counter thesis to the way we live in the West, Colombo or nowadays, even Jaffna. The blight to this mental landscape are the huge military camps and police check-points, worse still the traffic-cops looking for extra income when you stray in their way. Yet, it is noticeable the years of the war-devastations and neglect before the war have their own impacts, which are placing many communities at risk. For these villages have maintained an isolated self-contained lives, which cannot be sustained any longer. Migration of unskilled labour to the Middle East and to the farms and fields in the nearby Sinhala villages, war-widows, shortage of young men due to war, separation from the North, military presence everywhere, and the conflict between the Tamil and Muslim communities, etc.,they all must eventually have a say in their lives.
Under these newer circumstances how can such village-life could be maintained without compromising its essence?
There may be many answers to this very fundamental question. One of them would be to have a broader concept of a village by including those nearby, thinking beyond traditional boundaries of the small village, beyond casts, kulam, etc. to pool their resources and build new ones together. That could mean sharing the only science teacher between their schools, sharing water reserves by connecting the water tanks and making new ones to save water everywhere, bringing local produces to each other, etc.
Such expectations could only be useful and successful if they come from within, which is only possible if the villagers feel possibilities. Social engineering of this scale is only possible if the need is correctly identified and the timing of any intervention is correctly decided. As a small organisation CARE may have recognised such possibilities but has neither the capacity nor resources required at present. However, it has established a sense of presence and good will among the small communities, and to make contact between the communities more frequent organises many events. Recently it took its nursery children from Manipuram, Sinna Pullumallai, and Mahilavadduvan, and one of their parents on a tour to Trincomale. The villagers brought along cooked food and shared as they visited the many points of interest along the way and back. Friendships were renewed and fresh ones made, and more importantly ideas for such collaborative events were also freely coming from their conversations. To follow it up CARE also organised a sports-meet between the little-ones from these nurseries bringing together the three villagers, who are from different socio economic backgrounds, on a common theme; our future, our children. To this community of villages CARE will soon add Illupaddichenai, bringing a community poor and totally isolated into the mix. Where would this journey take? Well, only the time will tell. Being defeated is no shame to any small community. The mental slavery as a matter of course and inaction in the face of that defeat are what shameful. Care to care.
Linked together villages can be more CARE WITH EXPECTATIONS CARE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
Organising the tour and the 2 sports meets.
Mahilavadduvan Nurserys Theme: Organisation
Fledglings; Hopes and Optimism Manipuram School Sports Meet: The war may have been over for more than 5 years but, the insecurity remains, albeit as a disguised threat to personal wellbeing. Having one source of worry than two or more is always welcome, and in this sense end of war is an immense progress. For an ordinary village like Manipuram however, where people are away from the political classes, finer points about democracy feel distant as the proposal for Tamileelam. Their lives would have been the same irrespective of where the orders and decisions were made. They have the havoc caused by elephant visits to worry about. Then, if they feel relieved their children are safe from forced recruitment and kidnapping we can hardly begrudge them with our high and mighty notions of freedom and spiritualism. CARE is only too happy to be part of this new found optimism and confidence among our village. Pardon them for enjoying their Schools Sports meet after a long, long, long time. While they somewhat rediscover normalcy in their lives, and allow their children to venture outside their little homes the schools head teacher is still looking for a closure to one of great injustice done to him in the name of liberation. For he is in search of his fathers remains, who was also a head teacher, buried somewhere near by his kidnappers, the gang led by plote mohan.
Hopes and Optimism for our Fledglings CARE SPORTS DAY FOR AYITHIYAMALAI
CARE also brought together the three villages, Manipuram, Mahilavaddavan, and Sinna Pullu Mallai, and organised a sports meet between the small children attend its nurseries. The nurseries became the focal points, and the children provided the competition, while the adults took the time to make new friends. The next year meet will be in Mahilavadduvan, and will include a remote village in IIupanchenai. Manipuram Nurserys Theme: Vitality
Sinna Pullu Malai Nurserys Theme: Unity in Diversity CARE WITH EXPECTATIONS CARE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
CARE WITH EXPECTATIONS CARE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
Care Teachers are Caring Teachers Slogan for the Team Building Exercise
After a series of Educational training sessions for teachers in our area, CARE brought together its teachers to the Manipuram First- step Centre (MFC) with the specific purpose of laying the foundation for a CAREing Team of Teachers. Our nursery teachers from Manipram, Mahilavadduvan, Sinna Pullumalai and Illupadichenai and our teacher come maths coordinator, and our newest recruit to coordinate English teaching in our area participated.
Emphasis was to impress Care teachers are more than classroom teachers, have responsibilities towards the welfare of children, women, society and the environment. CARE vision is to ensure every child become a Golden Child not just in the eyes of its mother but, a child who is self- confident, self-aware that she/he has the opportunity and support to develop as a human being ready and willing to fulfil his/her potential. Thus, discussions focused on the characteristics of the CARE Teachers who partly oversee the birth of our Golden Child in constant interaction with the society.
The focus was also on teachers self-discipline in terms of how they spoke to the child, addressed behaviour and general issues concerning attitude, clothing, time keeping etc. Discussion also invited our teachers to come up with ideas for discipline and sanctions children without resorting to shouting and hitting, which violate Lankan laws. In order to achieve conclusions role-play activities and discussions were held. As a result CARE Teachers came up with ideas and suggestions such as: Showing care and love in words and actions. Finding the cause for the misbehaviour. Making classroom rule with children. Communicating with parents Working with relevant agencies e.g. psychologist, dentist System of rotation of teachers to share good practices. Discussions also focused on minimum wage for decent living and a career development program. Plans were also made to have training programs in outside locations to create more conducive atmosphere for such training programs to become more effective.
The visible physical scars are slowly but surely disappearing. Now the war- widows and severely maimed are posing different challenges to the general society, especially to us Expats. Presence of the disable people is fully accepted as normal and the community around them are attentive and even caring to their needs, as long as they have the time or the resources. It is the wider community, particularly those unattached in the process during the long period war who have a different, can even say, uncaring approach to their situations. Cruelty of war is unimaginable to those who did not have to endure it. Even among the victors, its devastative influence on individuals and their families are immeasurable. But, for the maimed among the losers the mental trauma is many times more than the pain and difficulties caused by disability. Loss of war always have a seriously negative impact on those in the frontline. For patriotic noise makers those who were on the frontline represent failure, which acts as a cover for their own personal failures and inadequacies. Hence, the attitude either to dismiss them or make them into some sort of victims.
The truth in most cases is these were volunteers willing to lay their lives and limps for the betterment of others. Therefore, they do not invite charity or deserve dismissive treatment. While the community around them treat them with respect and care, other who are distant to them have still not realised their share of responsibility for them as a society. SL government has made strenuous effort to fulfil its responsibilities towards the disabled soldiers. But for the Tamil soldiers life is a struggle. They do not have the state pension or disability allowances and perks Sri Lankan soldiers have. They do not have the means or satisfy the physical or academic conditions to earn wages. Strangely, state is also handing out Rs. 3000 to some of the disabled Tamil soldiers, once belonged to various militant groups. This situation therefore leaves us with the questions, Do we CARE? What are our responsibilities? How can we empower them? Can we create conditions such that they earn wages without becoming charity cases? When answering these question we may well remember, these were the people most of rightly or wrongly thought would gain the freedom for the Tamil communities. Despite the arguments about the past or the differences in ideologies or loyalties, any society at crossroads must pass the in test in addressing the issues of social groups at its margins. In contrast, in the case of the former Tamil soldiers, the test is how they are not left at the margins that counts the success of the society for the future.
Positive infusion of ideas and will are what we want: Should we Care for the maimed
HELP US BUILD OUR COMMUNITY IN UINTED KINGDOM CARE has moved on from its small base to a position to hold regular fund raising get-together functions in London. During the first half of this year CARE has managed three such functions of which two were financially successful. First event was held in Hemel Hampstead in February, which introduced CARE activities and its philosophies to new group of people, who otherwise have supported entirely different ideas and actions. Thanks to Murali, Nathan and, Sivasothy & family for the hard work that helped CARE launch itself confidently among a people generally in a sombre and defeatist mode. Unlike normal fund raising events CARE believes in building a community where individuals realise their responsibilities to share their lives with others through CARE activities. In doing so CARE hopes the newcomers will make new friends, and enjoy themselves. Therefore, its fund-raising events are open to anyone who cared for the people in the homelands without tickets only relying on the generosity of the patrons. Second event in Ilford in April was organised with the help of Siva, Nithi and Murali & Nathan families. Once again it was a big success in bringing in another set of people to CARE ideas. However, financially it just about broke even due to costly venue and timing. The third was organised by Senthi & friends with support from Siva, Nithi, and Arul families was held as a normal fund raising event with tickets and a sales campaign. Held once again in in Ilford in July, soon following the second event, it was certainly a big financial success and introduced new younger members to our community. CARE is grateful to Vasanthy for running the Children Corner, keeping youngsters entertained and Senthi for the sound system & music for all these events. Yet CAREs ideas, messages, and actions on the ground remain unknown to wider Lankan society. Obviously, neither does CARE own any t.v. or radio channels nor its lead-members get invited to talk about the real down-to-earth situations on the ground on Tamil channels. This may be of some concern to some members of our small community. However, CARE believes firmly the reputation earned on the ground, and the credibility of the membership and lead-members are the real factors that will eventually succeed. After all, though the LTTE was proven to be a failure in the end, it was the reliability and fighting qualities that earned its credibility over others, hence wider support among the expats. CARE also knows reputation spread by word-of-mouth is worth a lot more. Besides, CARE expects every community member to become lead-member by being part of its activities directly on the ground, and bringing home the real truths. If not for its propaganda, it will certainly fulfil its main objective of bringing the qualitative contact between the expats and rural people on the ground CARE yearns for. CARE hopes to carry the message, nothing is more true than being on the ground forward in every opportunity, to impress the need to get involved directly to everyone, particularly to the younger addition to our community.
CARE WITH EXPECTATIONS CARE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
Basheer Segudawoods Book review, an opportunity to present our case recent past in the context of the future. The reasons for the call for a South Asian Human rights charter to include hereditary rights were appreciated by those on the stage including the Minister for Justice Mr R Hakhim and others among the audience that included several Tamil speaking Government ministers, MPs, EP Chief Minister, PCMs, politicians, and leading members of the communities. Calls were also made to have a closer look at the nature of religious tendencies in national, regional politics in the context of global conditions, and to work closely with all communities to arrest the situation before they become overwhelming to the local populations. CARE as its community well knows, work with and work for all the communities that are in relation to the Tamil speaking people.
Any opportunity to present our case to sister communities should be appreciated. It is doubly important you take it seriously when many on the ground working with you could be at risk because of your actions.
Project Coordinator for CARE used the invite to review ministers book to give a critical look at the
Can you Help CARE? CARE mikg;gpd; Kaw;rpfSf;F cq;fs; fuprdj;ij jUtPu;fsh?
You, Rely on your tharmic strengths than the power of money. Value your time more than all the strengths. Refuse to define humanity on the basis of individuals, especially those you have met. Are not charitable but, the one realises your responsibilities. CARE completely depends on people like you.
It depends on the qualified the care man has of his fellow beings. Give us the money, we will sort it could never be CARE plank of appeal.
For it has chosen those perennially at the bottom of social stratum as the champion of the goodness of a society. It is the stratum even though it cannot read or write properly to advance its lot, will provide the men and women to be maimed and killed for the love of its language. It provides the cannon fodder for the course of nationalism even though its lot would not have any divident.
The men and women of these stratum in our midst are now completely left on their own devices, and to the charity. Stripped of their birth rights they now have to cower in front authorities, law, and those with power. Having lost the little grip, they look inadequate, disorientated, and in need of help. The war may be over but, his struggle only continues. As a project it has been put back to its infancy.
You are, 1. Knowledgeable and skilful in a subject like maths, science, economics, etc. 2. Doctor by profession and pastime. 3. Willing to share your time, knowledge and skill with those in the rural areas. 4. Prepared to take ownership of a project directly or with financial assistance. Then your relationship CARE needs badly.
CARE without boundaries. Manipuram and Jeyanthipura are rural in every sense. CARE WITH EXPECTATIONS CARE WITHOUT CONDITIONS
Please Contact: carefromuk@gmail.com or one of us directly 07435561813 vas; 07931566378 - murali; 07912965707 - kanex; 07847486923 - ravi; 07954573540 siva; 07460624519 senthi.
Rural Libraries, Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) and Concept of Rural Libraries and Knowledge Centre (RLKC) Bishnu Prasad Upadhaya, Ghanakanta Baruah College, Morigaon.