TodaysNetworkNews: SRI LANKA: NEW TEACHING TECHNIQUES & CHILDREN (UNICEF)

TodaysNetworkNews: 01 January 2010 - UNICEF: Sri Lanka - A new school in Sri Lanka employs new teaching techniques to help children affected by the 2004 tsunami and the country's 25-year internal conflict.

Rehearsing a play for World Children's Day, and playing the part of the fox, 10 year old Gnanasekaram has had to overcome the kind of unbearable loss no child in the world should ever have to suffer.

When he was five, he lost both parents in the tsunami, leaving his older brother and sister to look after him.

SOUNDBITE (Tamil) Sundaralingham Gnanasekaram:
"My brother and sister both work and they can support me to go to school. So I want to do well, and in the future I will be able to support them."

Losing more than a hundred children in the tsunami that destroyed the original school, this new school, built with support from UNICEF, not only has much better facilities, but also incorporates child friendly teaching techniques.

At this school, children and staff have not only had to overcome the effects of the tsunami, but also the damage from the countrys 25 year internal conflict.

SOUNDBITE (Tamil) Rajamahendran Indumathy, Teacher:
"Now, if the children first want to play before they study, then they should. And they learn a lot better.

Working in the schools makeshift canteen, Kanakaratnam Chandra has endured both.

Losing her husband to the conflict in the early 90s, she lost her sister in the tsunami, leaving her to bring up her two children, in addition to her own.

Now both teenagers, Mahanoraj and Mathirupan, still feel the loss each anniversary.

SOUNDBITE (Tamil) Tharmaratnam Mathirupan, 15 years-old:
When we start lighting the candles, I sometimes cry and feel bad. But we have to go ahead with our lives.

Despite the financial hardship, their Aunt feels its her duty to bring them up.

SOUNDBITE (Tamil) Kanakaratnam Chandra:
This is what God has done. Its a challenge but I have to accept it, because this is my fate.

As big as the hardships in this part of Sri Lanka, is the determination to overcome them. ................................................................................­................................ ( UNITED NATIONS CHILDRENS FUND: UNICEF TELEVISION ) ................................................................................­................................................................................­........ TodaysNetworkNews:
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