Aunty Bernie’s Journal

December 13th 2006 – Christmas Cheer

IIt was a novel experience at Bridge2Peace.

The first Christmas celebration ever experienced not just by the children but by the whole village. The parents requested that we visit little hamlets where the elders could enjoy this moment. ‘Santa Claus’ had never ever visited the village. ‘Viro’ the clown was definitely a first time too. Santa’s identity remains a secret !

  
December 28th 2006 – A day to remember

Even though the school was officially closed, a visit by my daughter Nientara, stirred the village into action. The camaraderie was obvious as they greeted her, surprising us all with a full show of all the students’ parents and elders of the village.

It was a joyful occasion as my husband, twin daughters Nadiya and Natalie, Nientara’s colleagues Charlie Munford and Zuika Kriegar watched in awe as the once overgrown site they had prepared physically, now hummed with happy children. We shared a typical day and many unfolding phenomena ! I watched the active involvement of my family with great pride. It was a moment locked in my memory of true motherhood bliss !   

Aunty Bernie with a kid

 

December 29th 2006 – Joy and fulfillment

Charlie and Nientara carefully inspected the land they had tirelessly nurtured. They were thrilled to see the ‘fruits’ of their labour in the many papaya, bananas and other bearing fruit trees and a variety of vegetables that already, though in a small way, contribute to the meals shared by the children, daily.

December 30th 2006 – Efforts are rewarded

Zuika was on a special assignment by Newsweek covering the 2nd anniversary of the Tsunami recovery in the country. It was a rewarding moment to have him confirm that Bridge2Peace was in fact a leader and a true model in the controversial story of recovery and rehabilitation in Sri Lanka

Zuika, Newsweek representive

 

January 6th 2007 – Another mile-stone

The LPF Academy opened its doors to a holistic education with commitment to the Peace Curriculum that received much press and national television coverage.    
    

Unveiling the Peace pole

 

January 4th – 14th 2007 – Teacher training gets underway

Refresher teaching practice for teachers from Lunugamwehera commenced at La Petite Fleur Montessori with rigorous training, workshops and observation. It was indeed a refresher course of training for the La Petite Fleur teachers as well.

Teacher Training, January 2007

 

January 15th 2007 – First day of school

My first experience of the traditional ceremony that marked the first day of the school, was a touching experience. The enthusiasm was contagious, the anticipation felt and shared by teachers, students and parent’s alike. It was almost overwhelming to feel even minutely responsible for such profound moment. My thoughts rushed to each of you out there who shared our dream to stand firm through the many challenges that marked almost one year of operation.

January 28th 2007 – ‘Kiri Amma’

IIt would have been an ordinary day but for the fact that I was fortunate to visit ‘Kiri Amma’ – ‘Milk Mother’ who lived with her son in a very little house, quite in the middle of nowhere. In her backyard, there was the healthy heard of cows whom she milked daily. Milk we had that day with sweet black tea literally came from cow to cup ! Nientara located Kiri Amma in her quest for natural ‘cow dung’ and had described in animated detail her arsenal pots, pans, broomsticks, old and other innovative weapons that hung around her property as the only defense against the roaming wild elephants. Nientara, she sends you warm greetings ! 

February 9th 2007 – Commitment

The cliché that “there is always more than meets the eye” was established as Liesl and I drove into a very pleasant surprise by a group of mothers gathered under the tamarind tree. Walking up to them we were amazed to find out that Dhammi, a teacher assistant, having heard of our plans to support vocational training for the mothers had volunteered her spare time to teach them some basic basket weaving skills.  The group of mothers, generally shy and withdrawn, was ecstatic with the possibilities when they expressed their willingness to learn a skill that will help them bring an additional income for their families. I felt the sense of self worth and hope in them and was amazed at the initiative taken and the positive attitude of the group of mothers who were there. There were two older children with them who were in uniforms. When inquired I was told that the public transport had not made an appearance for three consecutive days and so many children thus stayed at home.   

Learning basic basket weaving skills, 9th February 2007

 

February 16th 2007 – Taking the Montessori method further

Another mile stone in Montessori ! 12 young women qualified and pledged to follow the Montessori training. Liesl, Tharanga, Asoka and I worked hard for long hours on Exercises of Practical Life to suit the culture, adapting cultural activities relevant to the village  and emphasizing on their past grandeur, community identity and strength building upon the Wewa (water source), Dagaba (religious symbol) and Pansala (centre for spiritual learning). There was an unparalleled moment in history as we dived deep into the thoughts, words and guidelines of Dr Maria Montessori, first by listening intently to Maureen Jayawardene as she eloquently and enthusiastically shared her personal experiences of being among the second batch of students to study under Dr Montessori herself and then sacredly reading the hand written parchment like notes written in 1943 by Maureen as she and her sister barely 19 years of age sat at the feet of Dr Montessori as she conducted the training for girls in Kodaicanal, India. Aunty Leena Wickremasinghe and Aunty Joyce Gunasekara, having just passed out in the first batch assisted in the training.

Our strength is also in having experienced staff such as Mrs Celia Fernando who also studied directly under Dr Montessori when she was invited to visit Sri Lanka in 1947. ‘Aunty Celia’ has worked and guided La Petite Fleur Montessori House of Children since its inception in 1993. We are truly blessed !   

Teacher Training, 16th February 2007

 

February 22nd 2007 – Visiting the school in Thanamalwila with the message of Peace

While working on community building, we were fortunate to meet Rev Fr Modestus, a catholic priest who works untiringly to provide a home and education to 32 orphaned boys between the ages of 8 – 12. He is also committed to provide a much needed early education to nearly 75 children of this village which is approximately …….. from Lunugamwehera. It was encouraging to see his interest in our work, especially the Peace Curriculum. We were delighted to see children responding spontaneously and promised more regular visits and presentations on the Peace Curriculum. We also offered 2 teacher training programmes planned for Bridge2Peace.

Tanamalwila, 22nd February 2007

 

February 28th 2007 – Taking forward the Model school and the Peace message

II met Mr Anwar Sadas, a senior executive officer of ‘Nolimit’, a popular clothes chain in Sri Lanka. He is a native of Delhi, India and was interested in our work carried out in Lunugamwehera. A fruitful discussion took place when he expressed his interest in taking the model built at Lunugamwehera, to a village off Delhi where there is no early education for children. He is also interested in absorbing the Peace Curriculum in such model schools and pledged his full support on such a venture in the future.

March 2nd 2007 – More volunteers

The moment was proved true when Iyanthi, a nationally renowned Speech Therapist and Speech Educator, volunteered her time and services of her professional team to reach a few children we had identified with the Bridge2Peace community.

Word of her visit had spread and when we arrived we were greeted by over 20 children aged between 1 ½ years to 18 years. There was even a 34 year old adult suffering from Downs Syndrome, who had never being treated. Most parents were unaware that Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism are medical conditions. Either a curse, evil eye or other myth was the cause for such sicknesses that they widely believed, mainly due to low levels of education and lack of medical and support services. Poor economic conditions in the village have also restricted their efforts to look beyond the village medicine man or other village rituals and “poojas” – spiritual offerings.

With a wish for Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men – Bridge2Peace closed sessions for the academic year 2006.