Traditional Crafts Bring Children Together

Lantern Competition

The Foundation of Goodness works hard to protect and encourage traditions and cultural activities in the rural communities.

In May, the celebration of Wesak is a great opportunity to bring the whole community together to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and attainment of Nibbana of the Lord Buddha. It is traditional to mark this important date through the creation of beautiful and intricate lanterns, often made from simple, recycled local materials.

The Udumulla Village Heartbeat project held a special competition this year, open to all children in the area aged 12-18 years.

The participants worked hard to design and create some very special lanterns, which were displayed for judging on the 27th May at the Village Heartbeat community centre.

The competition judges were Mr. Saman, the MCC Computer lecturer, Sampath Viraj, Seenigama Foundation of Goodness Manager, and Mr. Ahmed Azoor. They had an extremely difficult time in the judging, as all the creations were so beautiful.

Out of the 14 entries, the winning lanterns were created by:

1st - L. Thisara Dilhara

2nd- G.H. Eresha Lakmal

3rd- W. Shalitha Madumal

The winning lantern has been given pride of place, displayed at the entrance to the MCC Centre of Excellence, for all visitors to enjoy throughout the year.

Kite Making Competition

A special Kite Competition was held on the 19th June with Children’s Goodness Club members from Seenigama and surrounding villages. It was organised to revive a dying fun creative leisure game that was very common in years gone by. It is a game of fun for adults, young adults, teenagers, children and any one of all ages.

This was an open competition and not only for the CGC members. Participants between the ages of 12 and18 years were invited to take part.

Kite competition judges were Mr. Saman, MCC computer lecturer, Mr Sripalee - MCC English lecturer, and special guest Ms.Deena Tissera, who is a current Miss Sri Lanka contestant for Miss World.

The most creative kite was judged to be one in the shape of a spider with the FOG logo in the middle. The colours were attractive too; purple and orange with white.

Fazana, Childrens Sector Manager tells of the day: “There was a kite that was flying the highest and the string broke for the strong winds and the kite flew away - the participant was troubling me constantly wanting to know whether he is the winner and what happens next - I told him that he has to read the rules.

Champa and I prepared the rules - one of the rules was that the kite has to be in the air for one hour and if broken, we give time for them to repair it and have it in the air. During that one hour it has to be in the air again.

Champa went thru the trouble to visit the internet and down load the rules from the Smithsonian Kite Festival and both of us prepared it to suit our competition and our kids.

He managed to find the kite and fly it again and he came second - I too, did fly it after the prize giving was over - It was the American flag.”

There were spectators who enjoyed the kite show, they had come to visit the Seenigama Dewalaya for religious purposes and took part in the kite show after that.

Activities such as these bring out the vibrancy of village life, where talent and creativity are harboured, waiting for the encouragement and opportunity to show themselves. Kushil provides great encouragement to the children, always taking part in the events and proudly witnessing the imagination of the children. “Our culture in Sri Lanka is built in the villages, and we must work hard to maintain it, through the games and traditions that bind communities together. Witnessing these competitions, I see the creative strength of our children and am so happy to be able to encourage them further”

“Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently”

2010.07.19