Multi-ethnic Pre-schools

Sithumina have been using multi-ethnic pre-schools to teach Sri Lankan children the value of mutual respect and friendship between different ethnicities.

Description

The initiative began in 2000 and involves the establishment of multi-ethnic pre-schools in the multi-ethnic villages in Kahatagasdigiliya and the surrounding area as an alternative to the existing method of separating pre-school children according to ethnicity.

These pre-schools include children from the Sinhalese, Muslim and Tamil communities, and represent the various religions included within these ethnic groups. The teachers are also drawn from all these ethnicities and religions and are specially trained in working with multi-ethnic groups.

The pre-schools have mothers' and fathers' associations that support events such as annual concerts, helping to bring the adults from the different ethnicities together.

Aims / Objectives

The initiative aims to promote multi-ethnic cooperation between children and as a result, their parents. Furthermore, it aims to instil pluralistic values from an early stage of childhood, thus laying a foundation for them to see all ethnicities as equal and to accept and tolerate each other.

This will lead to a more inclusive and accommodating society in the future, as the children grow up to become adults who are familiar and comfortable with diversity and co-existence.

How it is Articulated

Sithumina trains pre-school teachers in conducting multi-ethnic pre-schools, and supports them through monthly trainings and evaluations. Also, through the introduction of resource persons, the teachers are helped in devising new strategies for teaching, such as introducing new games that promote co-existence.

Achievements / Learning Points

By observing the organisation's commitment to their work, and the positive impact of this work on the children, (such as the impact of the children learning both Tamil and Sinhalese languages, thereby allowing the children to develop a greater understanding of the other ethnicity than their parents' generation), the community has come to respect and support the organisation's initiatives. They participate in the programmes with increased interest and enthusiasm. As a result of this, the adults from different ethnicities also come together often, cooperating with each other in activities related to the pre-school.

The number of children who enrol in the pre-schools has been steadily growing. This indicates that the parents are becoming increasingly aware of the difference between this method of teaching and the methods used by other pre-schools, and are encouraging their and other children to enrol.

The most important factor in working with children from different ethnicities is the belief that all ethnicities are equal. The teachers' behaviour shows the children whether they really believe in treating everyone equally, or if they are just pretending to believe. Therefore, truly believing in what you try to promote is extremely important. Commitment is crucial to the success of any initiative, and this takes priority over the financial strength of the programme.

The programme would have been more successful if it could have provided more material designs for its peace building aspect. Furthermore, the possibility of the organisation continuing its work with the children once they reach school, would assist in maintaining the values taught in the pre-school .

Geographical Area of Operation

Kahatagasdigiliya

Funding Resources

Tuition fees

Organisations Involved

Community-level Mothers’ Associations, Parents' Community Development Associations.

Story

Individual testimony from Armina, a Muslim pre-school teacher in Light Road, Kahatagasdigiliya:

Our preschool had only three students when Mrs. Kusuma invited me to join a training programme by Sithumina and work together with the Sithumina pre-school team. After the training I conducted the pre-school together with a Sinhalese friend, and we invited children from all ethnicities to come to us. We conduct religious rituals of Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims every morning at the pre-school and we use both Tamil and Sinhala languages in talking to students.

This work here has become closer to me after all this and today I love these children even more than my own children.

It is so rewarding to see the parents of the children from all ethnicities working together with everyone in organising events for the pre-school. They are all so much committed to make this even more successful, seeing how their children learn more than even they know about other religions and languages through attending the pre-school. Mrs. Kusuma is a great support to us, helping us with handling occasional difficulties and providing us guidance all the time.