One day with children

One day with children - 2009

    Vipulaanantha children's home (Palukaamam) withchildren1
   Kathiroli (kokkaddisolai)
   Sakthy Girls (Arasadiththeevu)
   Manikkavasakar (santhiveli)

I am writing this report to share with you, what i have observed and learned by talking to the children in these children's homes (in batticaloa, sri lanka) getting some help from your organisation.

Purpose:
Get to know the current situation of the children's in Given Childrens' Homes.

Activity:
25 - 04 - 2009 --> Vipulaanantha Children's Home
02 -05
02

In the Given Dates, went to these childrens homes and talked to the boys, girls and the people who take care of them as well as observing the surrounding they are living in. in this observation following activities took place:
1. introducing each other
2. games
3. Eating together with them
4. putting in groups and through that get to know their needs
5. giving them "special time" [to express their concerns]

Outcome:
based on above activities I have learned the following:

the number of children in each of these homes are:
Vipulanantha - 58 Boys
Kathiroli - 32 Boys
Sakthy - 35 girls
Manikka vaasakar - 35 Boys

But I could not meet all of the children, since among all the four homes, students have special classes to attend (specially O/L, A/L) as well as preparing for school Sportsmeet. But since most of them were in younger grades, I was able to meet most of the children.

It is notable that, all of the four Homes are run in their own building (not private buildings). Even though there are several other shortages exist, the children do meet basic needs.

In all of the four homes, Vanakkam [greetings] were welcoming me, even though my arrival wasn't informed to them. Since they were raised to follow the "rules" or "manners" which tell them to greet the new guests in such way, greetings become the symbol of hospitality. I entered hearing their greetings, which came naturally from some of the children, while the others followed it mechanically.

I noticed in all the homes except Sakthi childrens home, they make all the efforts to change their surrounding resourceful especially trying tobring greeness to their environment. Since Manikkavasakar Home just started to implement these efforts (they only live in their own land since just one year), it was very hard for the children to endure a very dry [no greenery] & empty surrounding. Unlike other homes, Manikkavaasakar home located in an isolated place, where no people's mobility is frequent. Since it stands alone, not only the human touch, the lullaby of trees also being unreachable for these children. The big gab between their home's entrance [gate] and their survival shelter affects them in great deal. Instead of the natural relaxation when you return home, they get restless. Not only the distance, the heat from the sun also increasing this. Their efforts to expect air in the no-air-fan buildings are obviously end up defeated. Therefore, they try to make their environment green. but they know that it will take a long time
for this to work.

'Sakthy' Home set up in a neighborhood filled with houses. So the outside is limited and the places of mobility is only made of buildings.

In their faces, showing the search not knowing who I am, they came and sit in line in front of me -like children in front of a teacher- obeying to the home managers order. In all the four homes, there are few known faces, but most of the faces are unfamiliar to me. In all the new faces, there glance is filled with mixture of expectation, shyness, naiveness & fear. I wanted to get rid of it and want to become one of them. When I sat in the same floor with them, the tightness disappeared and softened them. The smile filled their faces. They exchange glances and smiled to them each other. To soften the situation even more, I began with introducting us.

This event played as an icebreaker and broke our formal atmosphere. It made everyone to know each other. Not only that, it allowed to understand many other matters like:
1) their family situation & background
2) Their physical conditions.

For example, in Palukaamam Vipulaanatha Childrens' home two children were different when it comes to so called 'normal' physical ability. In these two children, on can't able to speak [speech disorder]. Even though he is studying in year 6, he doesn't have the proper growth. Reading & writing are hard for them. Other boy's brain development is below. There withchildren2 for: due to lack of his age activities, he is unable to look after himself. The managers have told that there are special classes for these children to improve their reading and writing skills, but for them, those are not enough.

Because, only the family background of the kid who was told to be below brain growth had driven him to this stage. The motherless boy was emotionally affected after with his father's neglegence to take care of him, and the step-mother's abuses and only it had driven him to insantiy. There should be an excercise or a practice that consider not only their education, but also their phychological health and its wounds to deal with them.
I have noticed several children whose mental health is affected due to such circumstances.

After knowing them this way, to make them feel closer to me and to make the atmosphere jovial we played games. We were discussing and playing games, switching back and forth.

These turned the dull atmosphere into cheerful one. That cheerfulness made them open up to me, talking to me. Even the ones who sat away due to their mental disorder were cheered by the games. So it was easy to continuously talk and work with them. But still the full atmosphere to express them freely was not there. Reason for that were:
- the gab in the relationship between myself and them
- one of the care takers of the home was present in the meeting

So, they expressed some oftheir emotions when the chance is given.
"we have no food for our stomachs now. it was like that in the start. then, it wasn't like that and good times for us. now, the situation became like before. Income is less now."
(Vipulaanathan Childrens Home)

"They brough me here because in my house they ordered me to do .i.e bring beedi [tobacco]. if they ask the same here, what can I do?"
(Manikkavaasakar)

"I am here for 6 years. There were hard times when we went to school and came back and went to cook. we struggled like that. How can a guy who came now talk like this to us? How can we let this happen?"
(Manikkavaasakar)

Children's these expressions are about supervisor. I was able to see him but couldn't talk to him. He left about 60 minutes after I went there and I didn't see him afterwards. From what I observed, as a 50 plus age man, this supervisor or manager does seemed like a person who was not any way connected to the children, walking around as a misfit among the children. Even when he is eating he doesn't sit and eats with the children, he eats in a separate place. He stays in the place given to him and the children say the only thing he does is walking up them in the morning. Even that too, he wakes them up, hitting the children he is mad at. Not only that, the children said how they saw him taking out the Home equipments whenever he wants. and quite older boys there said, that is where disagreements with between them and him grew. They continued saying, He comes drunk and swear at the kids with coarse language and order them to bring beedi [tobacco] and fire to lit it. and he have blackmailed the older boys [A/L students] saying that while they return from special classes; he will beat them up hiring somebody. He have also threatened them saying he would put witchcraft spells on them. So the children seems very much scared of the supervisor. when I asked 'did you tell your caretaker about this" they said, that, they have informed him and that Caretaker Ramesh brother have known everything and that he doesn't like this supervisor, but still he too can't do anything about it. When asked why, they told how this supervisor happened to be the uncle of the home's head and he was hired by him. When I asked "did you tell the home head" the children responded that they have told him and he didn't show interest in their comments and talked to them in favor of the supervisor.

In general, if I have talked to all four homes individually with extended time, I would of get to know about them in more details. The lack of availability of time did not allow me that. Since the children would be hesitant to express themselves due the fear and shyness to speak in front of many people, I put them in small groups and asked them to write down their wants and needs and the problems they face.

I can't assure that this procedure fully worked well or useful. Because most of them are children, and it is hard for their ability to cognise certain problems and express them in writing. Even though there were very few elder boys, they too were hesitant. At the same time they were very clear about one thing. That is: in whatever way, they have to let the people who come to see them know of their needs. This seemed like something they have conditioned to so. So through out these activities mostly they have expressed their needs and deficiencies. They gave it in writing too.

As same as this eating together with them let me know of other matters as well. The meals are still connected to the religion. The first 20-30 minutes reserved for meals is just another obligation for them. In that time, they have to come and line up and having their food plates in front of them and they pray singing a devotional song. After the song is done, they eat without raising their heads up. The time reserved for food passes silently. One of the rule is not to talk during eating time. I asked them the reasons behind these procedures. nobody have known it. An A/L Student from Vipulaanantha Childrens Home said they do prayer for all the people in this world to have food.

I don't know how that is possible with this particular procedure. Also in Manikkavaasakar Home only vegetable meals is being served. Caretaker Ramesh said to me, that they are now serving fish & meat in meals too. But when talking to the children, they have said that, now too vegetarian food is what served. In the daily food timetable they had there also, withchildren3 it is noticeable that they are fully serving vegetarian meals. The children expressed their dislike in such food.

In all the four homes, the children were so eager to express themselves. So, as a final activity, in all the homes, we gave each of them 'their own time' to perform an individualistic activity for everyone else. Everyone participated with so much interests in this segment. We were able to see the abilities and the sort of interests and talents everyone has inside them. The children who were not mentally well also used this as their stage to express their talents. They danced & sang songs, performing both individually and together. In these activities they love to spend their leisure in dancing and singing. But the chances and stage to do such is very seldom happens. They get these chances during the public events and celebrations happens in the home.

--> in all the four homes, radio and television are available. In Vipulaanantha home, the radio is used by elder boys in certain times only. In sundays, they are allowed to watch a movie in the day time.
In Kathiroli Home, both Saturday and Sunday they are allowed to watch 'movie.' In both homes, in Sundays they are allowed to watch 'Raamayanaa' epic episodes.
In Sakthi Home, eventhough the television is there, nobody uses it. Girls are saying that the TV is not working, but the caretaker said only the channels are not properly working.
In Manikkavaasakar Home they are allowed to watch the night News and in Sundays to watch a 'movie.'
--> In all the four homes, only in Vipulaanantha reading a daily newspaper is practiced.
--> In all the four homes, there is no library. They do have few books, but they are mostly about their school educational texts, epic narratives or moral stories.
--> Instead of expecting the children to obey the orders, discussing with children and urging them to make the decision is seen in Manikkavaasakar Home.
--> All the four homes are receiving help from some other organisations other than "uthawi"

Vipulaanantha:
* They have 'one day meal plan' in practice. It means, when there are celebrations and death anniversaries come across in that village, they organize arrangements to give out food for the children. They plan and book the dates earlier and put it as a schedule. Only when they don't have the dates they spend money for food. They also contact such events advertied in newspapers and meet the food necessity. All the four homes, are practicing this.
* Books, clothing and some other things were donated by the organisations such as: 'EHED', PPDRO & Save the Children.
They receive two lakhs rupees once every three months from 'Kanagathurka' organization in London, England. Other than that, they get a little income from renting out chairs too.

Kathiroli:
For food they follow the above mentioned Newspaper procedure as well as receive it via villager's ceremonies.
I couldn't get the factual information since the caretaker isn't there. The one who is in the position to take care of the children does not know anything clear about these matters. But he have known about receiving two lakhs rupess from people came from Australia. The divisional Secretary have distributed cooking equipments. Other than that, they also, get a little income from renting out chairs.

Sakthy:
From last one year, not Mr.Pushpalingam is not in charge of this home; a new managment have taken over. Mr. Pushpalingam have handover to new management due to no funds at all. With such a background they are meeting the food needs of the children in the following ways:
i) By the ones who do the 'world food program' volunteers cleaning the streets takes place and then food supplies are distributed. Street performers of the village take up the cleaning of streets and other volunteer community service works. At the end they are given the food supplies and it is used for our children's food need.

ii) Like other homes, meals served on the special dates of the villagers (i.e. birthdays)

iii) Since this village is an agricultural land, they reach the landowners to preserve rice.

other than this, they are interested in making a permanent income, and they are already started to work on their plans to open a bakery. They told that the cost to open a bakery is covered by an european who visited the home.

Manikkavaasakar:
--> The also follow the village events calender and the 'one day meal plan'
--> They have received monthly one lakhs from an organisation called 'manithaneyam' [humanity] until last four months they said, they didn't receive it.
--> In the past years, they said, that with the supply helps from TRO they have saved upto 8 lakhs. In that saving now they have 5 lakhs left.

--> They said the also still have the stocks of note books and all, from the supplies distributed by the TRO and Thanthiratheva Suvaamikal.
--> They have said that, there was a portion left in the fund given by OPTIMA Institution on the Thai Pongal Day to buy clothes for children, and that is what used to buy new clothes on the Siththirai Varuda Pirappu [Tamil New Year].
--> At the same time, in the in yhr same yard where the home is, they are also taking efforts to build a small temple for Manikkavaasakar.
--> in another part of the yard, they are also doing vegetation. Pine apples are planted right now. With these, they also raising a cow. To raise this cow they have an old couple in a small hut beside the home. For them monthly wage is 7000 Rupees.

* In all the four homes, for each new year (thai pongal) and Siththirai varuda pirappu (Tamil New year) the children get to get new clothes.
* In Vipulaanantha Home, once every three months they take all the birthday holders of those three months, and celebrate their birthdays. For that also that particular children get new clothes.
* For all the four homes, the children are not aware of the fund they are receiving, whether it comes to the exact amount nor where it sent from.

The children have known slightly that, they have got donations from some organisations. Among the older ones who are there for long time have known about their funders. But they don't know any details about them which have led to fraudgery too.

The fund given to Sakthy home in last November did not handed to the new management by Mr.Pushpalingam. Children do not know any details regards this fund.

HINDO is a common organisation for
- Kathiroli
- Sakthi and
- Sivayogam Homes.
All these three homes are part of (included of) HINDO. Among the ones who manage this organisation Mr.Pushpalingam is a key figure. Because of this Sakthy Home does not have a withchildren4 separate bank account. Even though the Home was given to new management, no documents were given to them. In that case it's been very hard to open a bank account for it. Since HINDO has all the authority, only HINDO organisation could drop it and let the Sakthy Home functions alone. That didn't happen, and so it is impossible right now for Sakthy Home to function on its own.

In my observation,
It is not likable to have these homes or encouraging them. but for our unfortunate, we are forced to create such homes in our situation. In this situation, it is important for these homes to only take in the ones who are good for them. Otherwise, its inevitable to avoid situations where a child who suppose to be at home, left alone to feel down, abandoned in street.

Homes are not only for to help the helplessness of the ones who are in need. They should also act to create the children into good humanbeings. To the child who arrives here from different atmospheres and behaviours, we have to show a new word where s/he could develop herself/himself and create a new person out of him/her.
In general above mentioned all the four childrens homes' lack in this need. None of their activities taken place considering this factor. Their main target is to help the ones in need. But, as long as the targets of the homes doesn't change to take new form, the increase in the number of homes also inevitable.