The children of the Change Makers Club in Karuvappankeny in Batticaloa celebrated World Children’s day on the 12^th of October 2007 with the elders residing in the “Thandavganvely Elders home”. This day was special not only for the children but also for the elders since the Elders Day falls on the same day as World Children’s Day.

125 children and 110 elders along with 7 reverend sisters (nuns) and 05 volunteers participated in this programme. At first the children firstly talked with the elders and helped them with their daily chores. This was fun for most of the children and even the elders were taken back to their own childhood reminisces. The entertainment programme started around 3.00pm. with the events being focused on child rights, links between elders & children, the ideal relationship between them and what is expected from each other.

Though this programme was organized mainly by the children of the Karuvappankeny Club, they were greatly helped by those in the elders’ home as well.  The talent show organized by the children not only helped them to bring out their talents but it also provided entertainment for the elders in the elders’ home.

One of the definite out comes of such a programme such as this was to instill in the children an attitude of honoring elders and helping them. In our societies where elders are considered a burden, we need a change of attitude to take place, starting from the children..

6^th of October 2007 - In view of World Children’s day a special program was organized for the children of the Ratmalana Change Makers Club, launched recently. Initially the club’s weekly events only attracted by about 35-40 children, which is less than quarter of the children in that area. However, on 6^th of October, at “apple watta”, an unexpected crowd of 115 children attended the celebrations.The senior Buddhist monk of this area also graced that occasion.

The children made posters highlighting the importance of World Children’s day, depicting the theme, “Why I am important”. The children were divided into two groups, and their talents emerged through group activities which included games.  They were also given opportunities to show off their individual talents. The senior Buddhist monk spoke to all the children, and gave each child a small token.

Some of the children’s’ parents and a few bystanders took part in a few of the events. The programme ended on a happy note as the children enjoyed themselves making the  programme a success.

The children of the Wattala Change Makers club decided to celebrate this event differently. Although at first they intended to visit the children of in the Tuberculosis Ward in Ragama. the hospital authorities discouraged the visit, citing the contagious nature of this disease. Therefore, the children decided to visit a Christian children’s rehabilitation home at Wattala. The program was scheduled for the 6^th of October from 9 am to 12 noon.  48 children from the Wattala change makers club and 39 children from the rehabilitation center got together for this event. Staff from NCEASL / ADT graced this occasion.

The children were divided into 6 groups. They created posters depicting the importance of World Children’s day and the importance of children and friends. Afterwards they took part in games organized by NCEASL / ADT staff. After these activities refreshments were served, followed by the gifting of tokens to the children

At the end of the programme bookmarks were introduced and the older children from the club were assigned the task of selling the bookmarks. Though the program ended by 12.15p.m, the children hung on for a further half an hour in the Hendala area busily engaged in selling the book marks. Later, reluctant to part, they returned home.

On the 06^th of October 2007, the Change Makers Club at Thotalanga commemorated the World Children’s day. The event began at 1.00 p.m. with 70 children participating.  Some staff from NCEASL also attended this event.

Children stood at attention as the club anthem was played on the recorder. This was the first instance the anthem was introduced to this club.  The program began with the participatory session on “Health Awareness”, and the ADT staff who conducted the session taught an action (animated) song too The programme conductor addressed many health issues, and the children pledged to follow by putting into practice what they learnt in their day-to-day to life.

Next the finger print activity followed where children were lined up in a row and each child was given an opportunity to place their palm print on a piece of cloth. The children were asked to write something on their palm prints and to write their names as well. Some children wrote their problems By reading through their inscriptions, we were able to understand how these little children were concerned for their immediate environment and their community. The activity of placing their names against their palm prints gave the children a sense importance and recognition. This was totally new for the children and their enthusiasm was remarkable.

The next session which was on Child Rights made the children know for the first time that they too have rights in this world. Though this was a difficult topic for the children to understand, the simple presentation helped them to grasp what was being told.

In the next activity the children were put into five groups and each group played a different game. As these games needed some thinking on the part of the children, we involved ADT staff members in the groups as well. Refreshments were then served which was followed by a talent show. Most of the children displayed their dancing skills, in many different varieties. These items were produced and practiced by the children themselves.

Before closing, we gave an opportunity to the parents to share their feedback about our Change Makers’ Club. Their responses were very encouraging; as they invited us to continue the program with the children’s club.