New Child-Friendly Schools in Sri Lanka

UNICEF's Sarah Crowe reports on efforts to ensure that every child's right to an education is fulfilled in Sri Lanka.

New Child-Friendly Schools in Sri Lanka Female: You're watching UNICEF Television. Sarah Crowe: In floury of fine, fur garlands of flowers and flattering flags, the children of Ampara District in eastern Sri Lanka cheering a new era dressed in their finest but a solemn moment too as flags are hoisted to mark the tsunami tragedy that destroyed their old school and village and took many lives six years ago. Today, the State of the Art School is part of a building back better project that has breathed new life into the community, symbolizing a new era. It was a chance too to show off the cutest kids for the assembled crowd and proudly parade the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan culture like traditional Talmud dances. And old six new schools were constructed in the district benefiting more than 3600 students. The scars of the tsunami are still scattered along this coastline, tombstones and ruins of the time when the sea took 35,000 Sri Lankan’s to their deaths, coupled with the long civil conflict in east parts the double blow has left deep wounds on the people here. The Sitharavel family would display 15 times during the conflict, the mother and children have seen too much but they now have some hope. Sitharavel Manonmani: The children still live in fear and get nightmares. They can't sleep. It’s like in a movie. They get flashbacks but things have improved and it’s better now. Sarah Crowe: Signs of renewal and rebuilding are everywhere here. Wells are being dug. Communities are healing and learning. Land mines are being cleared and even form of battle grounds are now playgrounds. From a sophisticated new school building, these young boys and girls survey their past, their thin shack classrooms and are excited about their future. Yogarajah: Not only that problem has been solved, it has been eradicated and completely giving a living peacefully now. Veerapathiran: During the tsunami, we had grade five scholarship. In that time our bugsa (ph) lost in the tsunami water then at that time, we can’t study very well. Philippe Duamelle: This community here has been badly affected by the tsunami in 2004. It was affected by the civil conflict, which came to an end last year. So it was very important for us in UNICEF to make sure that poor children from remote communities also regain access to education. Sarah Crowe: A firm foundation for learning and a bright start to a new chapter for their districts in their country has given this young people a reason for joy and the reason to jive. This is Sarah Crowe in Ampara District Sri Lanka, unite for children.