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| Thursday, 9 October 2003 |
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An oasis of love in the Wanni.... by Rita Perera Amid all the conflicts and disputes that seem to steal the headlines, during the ongoing peace process in Sri Lanka, it was a rewarding, if somewhat chastening experience, to visit the Seth Sevana Childrens' Home at Etambagaskada, Vavuniya. Eighty children, 68 Tamil and 12 Sinhalese live here and are cared for by a Buddhist monk. Their ages range from 2 to 16 years. The Home has just been registered and approved by the Dept. of Probation and Child Care, but has to wait for one year to elapse, before it is entitled to their grant of Rs. 300 per child per month. It survives now mainly on the salary the Buddhist priest gets, as an employee of an NGO. Also almsgivings, donations of rice, dry rations and used clothing from army personnel in the camps situated nearby. The only helpers are the Buddhist priest, his ageing mother, who together with one other woman daily worker, cooks for all the children. For the rest the older children help look after the younger ones. All, who are over 5 years go to school, where they study in the Tamil and Sinhalese streams. Some, who have missed school have extra classes in the home. Its history is interesting, as it started with 15 elderly, destitute men, refugees from the then, raging war, who were wandering helplessly around, and were given shelter by the late General Kobbekaduwa. He had asked this priest to give them shelter in the temple premises and he ended up looking after them till they all died, one at the age of 102 years. Thereafter, a child, a little over one year who was abandoned, first by his father, later by his mother, who couldn't cope with the child's needs... neither milk nor health care, as the child was covered in sores and scabies. The mother just placed the child in the arms of the priest and vanished. Though he had no experience whatsoever in child-rearing, he nursed the child through this traumatic period. As he had no-one to leave the child with, he took the child wherever he went, to perform his work and religious obligations. Word of his caring attitude spread and he was inundated with children in need of care, some children were even left at the gates of his temple, or within its premises. Most of them were refugees, abandoned by their parents/family, fleeing the ongoing war. As the numbers rose he had no option but look after them in the best way he could. He enlisted the support of his own mother, army personnel, devotees at his somewhat remote temple... whoever would help, in whatever way they could. Photographs of benefactors adorn the walls... a request to have one of the FONCA President was politely refused, as it works on the principle that 'service is its own reward!' Using a combination of donations, savings from his expense allocation on the few occasions, the monk had to go abroad in connection with his NGO work and probably Providence from above, he has managed to put up a few basic buildings to house these children, who at least now have a roof over their heads, but not much else in a tangible sense. The little ones in particular, regard the monk as their surrogate father and mother... the sole supplier of all their needs. So they at least have emotional security. But why should these children be deprived of so much, especially when we consider all the rhetoric that is spouted by the 'powers that be'? The parties, clothes and the general glut of goodies, that surround children in more affluent circumstances seem immoral in the face of the basics these children need, some of which, apart from food are... Clothes... until a generous gift of new clothes from garment manufacturer, Kumar Dewapura, which FONCA were able to hand over to them, the only clothes they previously had were cast offs and second hand clothing. At least they now have 1 item of new clothing! Footwear... almost nil. Bed linen... nil as the majority have no beds, pillows or even a covering sheet... only thread-bare mats to sleep on. Toys, indoor and outdoor game... again almost nil. There are a few balls including one football, for these 80 children to play with. Two swings and not much else! Children, being innovative, were happily chasing a boy, dragging an upturned card board box, as if it were a car, while we were there. We were told, that some of them had drawn the squares of a draught board on a piece of card-board and were using lids of drink bottles as pawns, to play with! There were 4 old TV sets but only one worked in fits and starts. They kept the others as ornaments! No musical instruments visible... not even a drum! Health... one boy had an epileptic fit, while we were there. The monk said he was under medication but the drugs he needed were very expensive. All the boys had their hair shorn not because it's the fashion, but as it's the best way to keep them clean. Maybe the dire situation in this home is not unique and there are probably many more such institutions in Sri Lanka, especially in or near war torn areas. But why should they be so marginalised and their needs so neglected? There are so many child focused NGOs. Foreign ones such as UNICEF, Save the Children, Red Barna etc. Local NGOs, voluntary bodies, religious organisations of all denominations, many with unutilized funds and assets... and lastly, individuals with more money than they know what to do with. Shouldn't they all channel at least a small percentage of their finances to help institutions such as this? If, they or anyone else, is interested in helping the Seth Sevana Childrens' Home, it is situated at Etambagaskada, which is 4 km off a road, the turn off to which is about 2 km on the Vavuniya - Horowpotana Road. Donations may also be sent to People's Bank, Vavuniya branch, A/c number 253-070395-8. |
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