Continuing the efforts of providing children a carefree environment where they could forget their sad and disturbed childhood, brought about by war, one more “Mahilchi Illam” (Happiness Centre) for psychological well-being (children’s psycho-social centre) was declared open at Nedunkerny Maha Vidyalayam in Wanni.
The opening took place last Saturday (7), headed by Security Forces Commander Wanni, Major General G.D.H.K Gunaratne and several distinguished guests, supportive of the project.
Nendunkerny, a remote village in Vavuniya district has a population of 1026. Its main school, Nedunkerny Maha Vidyalayam which was marking its 80th anniversary, has 266 students who have been struggling hard to bring back normalcy to their lives after resettlement a few months ago. Those children with limited resources and damaged buildings around them remind them of their bitter experience in the war.
The brightly painted and well equipped new Happiness Centre inside their school premises revitalized and awakened the school and its surroundings, creating the much-needed excitement, hopes and joy to the drab and weary lives of those children, now trying to bring themselves together in the aftermath of the war.
This psycho-social centre provides the children a place to be happy once again, engaging in simple activities such as drawing, handcraft, singing, dancing, reading & watching TV, etc, which are not available to them at the moment, either at school or in their homes.
Major General G.D.H.K Gunaratne, speaking on the inaugural occasion urged students to concentrate more on their education and rise to higher positions in society. He also commended Ms. Manori Unambuwe for taking the initiative in opening one more such psycho-social centre in war affected areas, with Nedunkerny being the 6th of its kind.
The psycho-social centre was sponsored by Sri Lanka Army’s Wanni command as a part of their post-war efforts to win the hearts and minds of the people of the North and was co-sponsored by Action & Care Trust (ACT) of Sri Lanka, founded by a group of citizens who are engaged in supporting relief efforts in the North. The organization has been working closely with the Government since 2009.
The 56 Brigade under General Office Commanding (GOC) Brigadier N.A.P.C Napagoda and under the direct supervision of 561 Division Commander Brigadier D.A.R Ranawake, provided skilled labour and support for renovations and refurbishment of the new ‘Happiness Centre’ with much enthusiasm and commitment.
The excited and happy smiles of children, their eyes lighting up as they played & sang, drew & read books soon after its opening. They started using the resources of the centre, forgetting their lost childhood as teachers, parents and others looked on with concern.
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