ECO-V has floated various programs for schools children in Sinhala and English mediums since 2001. Now we have started to create awareness among school children in Tamil medium. This successful series of awareness sessions were organized by Caritas EHED, Batticaloa ( https://www.facebook.com/caritasbatti/ ) which is well known member of the Diakonia family (Our funding partner) https://www.diakonia.se/en/ . Also we would like to give our special compliment to Kowshayini Pathmanadan who gave her contribution as a volunteer. She did same session thrice in Tamil medium for 3 teams from 6 schools at Batticaloa area.
Here what Kowshayini writes on her experience gained through the programme...
Life turning Journey
ECO - V is a voluntary organization rendering enormous services to the nature and community. It was a greatest blessing to me to join with ECO - V. I got this precious opportunity to join with ECO - V through Ms. Lakmini Koralegedara when ECO-V conducted a stall under “Green City“ section of VIDYA 2017 - Science Exhibition & Trade Fair, University of Kelaniya. I am a graduate in Environmental conservation and management, Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya (2017).
So I started volunteering with them. I felt so special when I entered into the ECO - V office at Borelesgamuwa as everything was nature friendly. I was requested to translate some leaflets from English to Tamil for the Batticaloa awareness program. That was a great time with the staff members knowing how they joined ECO - V, their nature friendly activities and their research interests etc. Most importantly I could meet Mrs. Kanchana, president of ECO - V, on the same day for the first time and I felt so blessed.
I was trained by Ms. Chapa Erandi Amarasinghe on the topic of “conscious consumerism “in a very descriptive and effective manner. We started our journey to Batticaloa on 23rd of October in the early morning, I was very excited as I was visiting to Batticaloa for the first time. The journey was very interesting as we were traveling from the west point, Colombo to the East end of Sri Lanka; Batticaloa passing several districts in-between. When passing Kurunagala, Polanaruwa and Minneriya, both sides of the road were represented by lush green forest habitat which always make a journey very pleasant and beautiful. We reached Batticaloa around 3 pm and in the evening we could visit few places including Batticaloa fort, Kallady beach and the famous Amirthakali Mamanga Pillayar temple. Batticaloa is a very beautiful place with very kind people.
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| Batticaloa Fort |
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| Kallady Beach |
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| Kallady Beach |
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| Amirthakali Mamanga Pillayar temple |
On the next day the awareness program was organized by Caritas EHED, commenced at 9 am with the welcome speech. There were around 300 students participated from several schools of Batticaloa for the poster exhibition, quiz competition and awareness programme on conscious consumerism, mainly focused on food. School students were very attentive throughout the programme. In my point view, the best job in the world is creating awareness among the students who are the future leaders of the country. I really enjoyed and felt so responsible when sharing very essential facts of healthy food consumption. Kids were also trained in sustainable waste Management and making Eco Bricks.
After the programme, we were able to drive to Pasikudah, a very beautiful beach with white sand, algae and coral reefs.
We could enjoy a cloudy evening which was about to rain on the way back to Colombo. Soothing breeze, lush vegetation on both the sides of the road, group of flying small birds made that time a real heaven. This will be a memorable journey and initial step of my passion. And I thank ECO - V for giving me this wonderful opportunity.
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