Rainbow Children's Chritsmas Festival 2012

The annual Christmas festival of the Rainbow children was celebrated in a grand scale on the 01st of December 2012.  The Chief Guest of this celebration was Rev. Fr. Nandana Manatunga, the Director of Human Rights Office and the former Director or SETIK. 

This was a good opportunity for the rainbow children of Rattota and Kandy to share the grandeur of Christmas.

One Day Training Programme

A one day training programme for 58 G. C. E. (O/L) students was conducted at Annfield Tamil Maha Vidyalaya, Dickoya on the 21st of September 2012.  The resource contribution was rendered by Mr. R. Mahendran (M.A.), and Mr. Sivakumar (Coordinator - Child Labour Unit).

 

Dedication of the upcountry Tamil students in education, commitment of the schools and parents in promoting education, how to devote more time for education in order to achieve good results, sports and their advantages were the themes of this programme.

"After this programme, a great change has been taken place in the mentality of the children.  Now, they have a firm desire and determination for studies.  Their discipline has been improved virtuously".  These are the views expressed by the vice principal and the class teacher of the G. C. E. (A/L) of this vidyalaya.  They also request us to organize some more training programmes.

Leadership and Personality Development Programmes for Children

Two, leadership and personality development programmes were conduct at the Hatton Centre and at the SETIK auditorium on the 7th, 8th & 9th and on the 15th & 16th of September 2012 respectively.

For the programme held in Hatton, the resource contribution was rendered by Mr. Peter Roy Gabriel and Mr. Sivakumar.  There were 86 participants for this programme.  There were 28 participants from three fields for the programme held in Kandy and the resource contribution was rendered by Mr. T. Mohanraj.

The children were given a good knowledge and understanding about leadership talents through various activities to enable them to promote social activities in their fields.  This was the objective of our programme.  Further, we wanted to make these programmes to enhance their skills.

These children got a good opportunity to enhance their friendship from this training programme.  They assured us that they will utilize their knowledge gained, in their fields.

We, Caritas Kandy - SETIK celebrated the International Day against Child Labour

We celebrated the international day against Child Labour in an exemplary manner on the 21st of July 2012 at the Hatton town, with the participation of 305 persons.

Mr. Karuppiah Meinathan-the former Director of Education, Rev. Fr. H. N. Abraham-the Nuwara Eliya district Coordinator of 'SETIK', Mr. N. C. Gregory-Administrative Manager, Mr. A. C. S. Crooz- Programme Coordinator, Members of the 'SETIK' staff, Principal of Thangakelle Tamil Maha Vidyalaya, Teachers of Schools, Field Community, Community Leaders and Children were among the participants.

There was a protest march led by Mr. A. C. S. Crooz, the Programme Coordinator from the Hatton Central Bus Stand to the Catholic Church Hall with the caption "Stop Child Labour".

Rev. Fr. H. N. Abraham in his address stressed the responsibility of the community to educate child labour and promote the education of the children.

There was a debate conducted among schools on the topic "who is responsible for child labour - the parents or children"?.  'Thangakelle Maha Vidyalaya' secured the first place by scoring 184 points while St. Clair Tamil Maha Vidyalaya came second with 181 points.

Mr. Karuppiah Meinathan, the resource person of this day in his address emphasized about the adverse effects of Child Labour and stressed the need of severe punishment to the offenders.  He also said that the children of minor employees who clean the town are not treated or regarded properly by the community and made an appeal to the community to treat them as their children without any discrimination.

A short film show, depicting the child labourers who re-attend schools after being enlighted was also presented on this occasion.  Five dropped out children who were re-admitted to school have now been qualified to follow the G. C. E. (A/L) were presented with exercise books.

Detail of this programme had been published in the "Sooriya Kanthy" news paper with banners and posters.  Hand bills were distributed among the participants denouncing child labour.  This information may have reached through out the district of Nuwara Eliya.

Commemoration of Thaipongal Festival 2012

Thaipongal festival organized by the SETIK organization was held at it's auditorium on the 28th of January 2012, under the distinguished patronage of Rev. Fr. Director. The main objective of this celebration was to improve cordial relationship among different communities.

About 115 participants including children from Kandy Rainbow Centre and parents took part in this celebration, while the special offering (poojawa) was conducted by the chief kurukkal at Mahaiyawa Hindu Temple, a lecture on "Significance of Thaipongal and its Cultural Values" was delivered by Mr. N. Premakumar, Principal, Nagala Tamil Vidyalaya, Matale District who was the chief guest on this occasion.

Two Day Residential Training Programme for Children

The two day training programme, organized by Mr. K. Sivakumar, Coordinator (Eradication of Child Labour Unit), was held at Hatton Centre on the 16th & 17th of February 2011. 46 children from Deeside, Mora, Wanarajah, Fordays, Beerat, Christlessfarm, Strathen, Unifield and Radella estates took part in this programme.

These children were enlightened under the following topics with team work by resource contributors M/s S. Premkumar and S. Thiruchelvam.

Topics
Children’s Rights
Child Protection
Child Abuse
The vision of the children in the future
Significance of Education
Personality Development
Developing of Skills

Out Come
The children took part in this training programme with great concern and enthusiasm and they composed a song on “Children’s Wold” and delighted us by singing it.
Acted a drama on “The Parents Drunkenness and its Bad Impacts on Children”
They took part in a debate on “the significance of education”
General Knowledge Questions and Answers

Commemoration of Thai Pongal

Commemoration of Thai Pongal festival organized by the ‘SETIK’ organization, Kandy was held at its premises on the 29th of January 2011. Improving cordial relationship and peace among ethnic groups through appreciating the cultural values was the objectives of this commemoration.

There were 110 participants for this function. Children from rainbow clubs of Kandy and Rattota in primary classes, teachers and parents, were among the participants. A special religious observance was conducted by Hon. Ajantha Kumara, Kurukkal of Mahaiyawa Hindu Kovil. A special lecture was delivered on this occasion by Mr. K. Megawarnan, Principal, Vaani Tamil School, Hunnasgiriya in Tamil and Sinhala languages.By commemorating this festival, the gathering was enlightened about cultural values and shares the experience among them.