Children First – Even under COVID-19

After the 2004 Tsunami, the Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care launched a campaign under the slogan ‘children first’. The basic tenet of it was that children don’t think less but they do think differently. Depending on their age they may not have a well-developed vocabulary so, they may express their feelings in different ways, may be through drawings or play. Therefore, allowing them to ventilate their emotions through drawing could help. So, what we wanted was to give them an opportunity to draw whatever they want, or maybe they will want to play with a toy or read a book to cope with their feelings.

The campaign during 2005 was popularised exclusively by The Island newspaper by carrying a front-page news and a full dedicated page on the 5^th of January. Since then, drawing and play material were donated by abondance by the public.

It also had a policy impact. Lakshman Kadirgamar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time echoed it saying ‘special attention should be paid on children during the rebuilding of the country’. Vijitha Herath, the Minister of Cultural Affairs & National Heritage took it further by organising exhibitions of such drawings. It reached the highest level for attention when the US President George Bush along with Bill Clinton visited Sri Lanka in February 2005. The memorabilia they received were drawings done by the children.

Today under the COVID-19 pandemic the situation is more important. The children in families under quarantine are restricted in their movements with reduced opportunity for group play. These children may not have the desired food and or other basic needs included within the Rs 10,000 provisions.

It is our duty and social responsibility to ensure these children that their special needs such as toys, playing, drawing and reading material is been provided. We cannot expect the Government to do everything. We as citizens can come forward to make them feel that someone cares for them. It is important to make children an integral part of the relief efforts and create awareness among the public about the needs of children.

Please contact Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care 393/3 Lily Avenue, Off, Robert Gunawardena Mawatha, Battaramulla 10120 (Tel. 0112 86 30 84) or Colombo Municipal Council Dr Kapila Sooriyaarachchi (Tel. 0773031390) to deliver any material people are willing to donate.