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by Malini Govinnage

"I have a dream, a song to sing, to help me cope with anything" the words are familiar. They begin to hover my mind and come out in a mumble of a song.

I go back to the past week when I met those young girls in Nochchiyagama, Muttur and Uppuveli. A smile comes upon my face; for I'm happy for them. Harshest circumstances that they have faced with when the war ravaged those areas, affecting their lives in numerous ways have not been able to diminish their expectations.

They dream - yes most positive dreams - not the dreams of lotus eaters but dreams of those who are gainfully engaged in some life and soul sustaining activity. Now, those beautiful words have awakened me. We - Suzanne, (UNICEF) Nandana (Lankadeepa) and myself are in the small hall of Nochchiyagama Holy Family Convent. Sisters Nirmali and Ursula are with us with Pubudini Sandarekha. Clad in a white blouse and black skirt with oiled and plaited long hair she takes a seat before us, with sister Nirmali's beckoning.

"I was doing nothing since I left school after O/Ls. Because, I had not done any thing other than going to school and helping in chena or work in paddy fields when the seasons come. But I wanted to learn something else. Some craft so that I could start something which I could do on my own" she says.

Sandarekha is a UNICEF beneficiary who has had three months residential training at "Samata Sarana" in Mutwal, Colombo. 'Samata Sarana' is an NGO, working with slum and street dwellers and the refugees from the North and the East. Among several other activities 'Samata Sarana' works towards empowerment of women and youth by training skills.

To this end, SS gets support and collaboration of relevant Government authorities, private institutions and international NGOs, UNICEF being one. Leaving school, like any other girl of her age, she was bored of having nothing worthwhile to do.

Having no access to the outside world, or without an opportunity to learn a craft, life seemed to have come to a blind-end. She used to visit the convent, help the nuns in the pre school in convent premises. This paved the way for Sandarekha to come to 'Samata Sarana' for three months residential training program.

Colombo, It was her first visit to the big city. And, first time away from home for such a long period.

Life of three months in SS changed her life." Twelve years in school, and we learnt nothing we could make use of" she says.

Now, she teaches what she learnt to a group of ten girls in her neighbourhood. The girls who did not know at least 'running a thread' neatly now have come up to learn intricate steps in sewing. She charges each girl a hundred rupees for eight days of the month that she teaches them.

It is probable that you would not take much notice of their products, nor would you value them highly considering the marketability, profitmaking capacity and competitiveness of their products. But for them. Even these little products - results of their little training worth a life time, is a beam of hope.

A door opened, to enter in search of a new world. Even if it is not any of those things, it is a great way to break the dull monotony and desperation of their poverty stricken lives.

'Nochchiyagama area has the highest suicidal rates in the country' we learn from Father Pinto Director of the vocational training centre surrounding the convent, whom we paid a courtesy call before we left the premises. "Many young men and women commit suicide eating 'Kaneru' seeds, because of poverty, and unemployment led frustration. They have nothing to cling on to."

"Sandarekha, Malika or Veronika (the other two beneficiaries from Nochchiyagama) have something to cling on to" we had a sign of relief.

We met Jaya Gowravi, another beneficiary at St. Theresa's convent in Muttur town, with another group of girls who were attending flower and bridal bouquet making class. Jaya can remember her father leaving them. It was some ten years ago. She was barely twelve years, with her brother and sister one to two years elder than her.

Since the father left them, mother went out for work as a farm labourer.

Her brother, a school leaver, who did not dare to be a militant fled the country with an illegal passport. Now, he is in a jail somewhere in Europe. Jaya guesses he is in Switzerland. Her only sister committed suicide in 1993, for some reason unfathomable to Jaya.

That was when they were in a refugee camp. Adding more misery to life, she lost the lower part of her left leg, when she was going for a bath, in one evening. When things became slightly normal, mother and daughter returned to their home - not without hope. Precious life has not left them. Jaya was able to get an artificial leg fixed in Kandy hospital. Her first ever visit, Outside Muttur, the second being Colombo - to 'Samata Sarana' in Mutwal.

Fortified with her residential training in SS and a smattering of Sinhala, picked up from the Sinhala friends and the daily evening class at the training centre, she came home to Muttur.

She was able to buy a sewing machine putting together, a little more than Rs. 3000 of her mother's savings, and donation of Rs. 10,000 from a donor. And, she had Rs. 5000 worth raw materials-clothing, thread, beads and many other accessories needed for sewing and flower making - a package when 'Samata Sarana' gave away when she finished training.

"I get orders now and then for a baby suit, a blouse or a bouquet of flowers" she says - once the raw materials are over what would she do. The sewing teacher in the convent, who visits Colombo, atleast once a month buys whatever materials Gowri needs for work.

We had a visit to Jaya's little house, a cadjan thatched, mud plastered one roomed thing with a heat little kitchen.

Samantha Puthpalatha and Mary Nilukshika are two other 'Samata Sarana' beneficiaries at St. Ignatious Convent in Uppuveli - a haven for about thirty adolescent girls and a boy orphaned, been destitute by war: While Nilukshika is a, resident in the convent, Samantha lives with her mother and her two siblings in Ganthalawa, a closeby village.

"We were in China Bay. When terrorists attacked our houses we had to flee." Samantha explained herself. "Shortly after we came to Ganthalawa, father died of heart attack. Mother works in several houses as a domestic. "When Amma can't find any work she would collect firewood and sell" she said answering sister Adrien's questions.

"Samata Sarana" an NGO registered with the Department of Social Services is an approved charity, working with slum and street dwellers and refugees from the North and the East.

Through surveys, house to house visits talks and discussions with well-wishers "Samata Sarana" finds the most needy of her services.

Residential programme for girls, that has been going on for some years with the internal conflicts in the country, has been designed as a building ground of peace and harmony among the main three ethnic groups in the country. Once, the girls come under Samata Sarana wings, they are given residential facilities plus required raw material for their training. Teachers specialized in sewing, and cookery take turns daily, teaching the girls.

Sister Bernie, Directress Nun at Samata Sarana who plays mother to all these inmates personally looks into each and everyone's needs and would take time to heal their wounded minds by listening and if needed, facilitating them with psychotherapeutic counselling.

Last year, four batches of girls, of 51, 53, 40 and 36 had finished their three month long training and returned to their homes. When they left, each girl took Rs. 5,000 worth raw materials, so that they could start work right away when back at home. Among other international agencies, UNICEF plays a significant role in this particular Samata Sarana programme, providing with furniture, equipment and material.

After visiting these girls and wanting to know more of this magnificent organization which I only had a fleeting visit, I turned the pages of Samata Sarana annual report. It starts thus "I have a dream, a song to sing to help me cope with anything. If you see the wonder of a fairytale you can face the future even if you fail."

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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