Sarasi Jayaratne - Spreading happiness through books

Preamble to a brighter future for Lankan kids

If life is a book, 18-year-old Sarasi Jayaratne is reading it well. She wants to help those who are less fortunate as she leafs through the chapters of her own life. And is there a better way to spread happiness than through something that can open windows to a new life - books.

Sarasi, a young Sri Lankan-American firmly believes that reading maketh a full man (or woman).

Her idea is rather simple - help Sri Lankan children to read and learn by donating books to schools and libraries across the island. Now, 8,000 books later, she has been rewarded for her groundbreaking initiative with a 2008 Prudential Spirit of Community Award in the US.

It all began with the December 2004 tsunami. "When I saw reports of the disaster on television, I had this overpowering urge to help," Sarasi said. She initially raised money with her Girl Scout troop to support Red Cross relief efforts, but she wanted to do more. Then she learned that 168 schools in Sri Lanka were damaged or destroyed by the tsunami, and she started a book drive to help them.

"I just felt like someone should at least initiate it and let other Sri Lankans know that there is something they can do," Sarasi recalled.

She felt guilty when she noticed that piles of children's books were gathering dust in her basement. "Here in the United States, we have the resources - we have the toys, the books, everything," said Sarasi.

"Every time I went there, I felt rather guilty that there are some kids who during the school year are standing in the streets. I felt that there has to be something done there to get them back in school. English is one vital tool."

The book drive began with her going door-to-door asking her neighbours for help. "I started out describing the culture of Sri Lanka, where it is and how devastating the tsunami was," she said.

Sarasi met school and church leaders to discuss her planned book drive. She also garnered the attention of local news media to help spread the word about her campaign. She also canvassed neighbourhoods door-to-door. Over the following months, Sarasi gathered books from friends, schools, churches, yard sales and libraries. "The response was overwhelming," she said.

"Parents and children came to my house and dropped off books. Every time I came home from school, there were bags and boxes of books."

When she had collected 2,000 books, she came to Sri Lanka to deliver them to 15 schools that she had selected; while there, she also tutored school children in English.

Some of the schools were huts with thatched roofs. Many of the children had lost their parents in the tsunami, "but they all have a smile on their face," she said. "That always made me feel teary."

Everything about the trip overwhelmed Sarasi. For one thing, the "small ceremony" she was expecting at the first school turned out to be a gathering of 2,000 students, a marching band, military figures and other leaders. Sarasi had to give a speech.

"I was not terrified, I was just like, 'Wow,' " she said. Sarasi couldn't believe how important her efforts turned out to be.

With more donations coming in from across the country, Sarasi soon had 4,000 additional books to ship. She says her project, now formalised as the "Keep Reading Foundation," is designed not only to aid devastated schools, but also to promote English as a common language that can help children from different backgrounds succeed and get along with one another in the modern world. "English is one of the things that they really need to learn," Sarasi said.

So she asked a local Sri Lankan group if it would be helpful to send gently used children's books along with the clothes her family was frequently sending.

Since then, she has shipped 8,000 books to Sri Lanka, which is planning to open 15 libraries to house them.

"When you drive to the villages, there are some houses that are abandoned and destroyed. The roads are getting fixed, and the schools are coming back, but they just don't have the supplies," she said.

"Sarasi is an inspiring example of young people who care deeply about the needs of others and who have taken the initiative to help meet those needs," said Prudential Chairman Arthur F. Ryan.

"By honouring them, we hope not only to give them the recognition they so richly deserve, but also inspire others to follow their example."

Her goal is to deliver books to as many schools as possible, especially in the Eastern province, which she was unable to visit during her last trip.

Sarasi's next book shipment will go to Cambodia as well as Sri Lanka and she plans to expand her project to support children in other developing countries.

"There are people on the other side of the world who should have the same opportunities as us," she said. "Here, we have so much stuff sometimes we don't know what do with it. Why not help people on the other side of the world have a good life and a good future?"

"I want them to have a chance to get the best of what life has to offer," she remarked.

Courtesy - businesswire.com, wannipost.com, washingtonpost.com

Unseen world of mother

My mom only had one eye. I hated her... She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family. There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me.

I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school one of my classmates said, "Eee, your mom only has one eye!"

I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, " If you're only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?"

My mom did not respond. I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings.

I wanted her out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts.

Then one day, my mother came to visit me. She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her grandchildren. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, "How dare you come to my house and scare my children!" get out of here! now ! And to this, my mother quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address," and she disappeared out of sight.

One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity. My neighbours said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

"My dearest son, I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children. I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you.

I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up. You see........when you were very little, you had an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye.

So I gave you mine. I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. With all my love to you, Your mother."

Reader via email

The Queen of My Heart

Pangs of labour only a mother would know,
To bring forth her new born, God's creation bestowed.
With tender love and care she cuddled me to her bosom,
Those long restless nights to her were never tiresome.

As I crawled and struggled to take my first footsteps,
What joy would have radiated on mother's dear face,
To see her precious bundle grow before her very eyes,
Remembering the infant's bubbly gurgles
and squeaky little cries!

As years rolled by, she taught me right from wrong,
Mother's knowledge and discipline have made me very strong.
With her loving words of advice, I now stand on my own,
The ladder of success I've reached,
with the guidance she has shown.

Now as a grandmother,
the love for her grandchildren sure does keep her on her feet,
Her fairy tales and sweet lullabies gently rock
them off to sleep.
Memories of her own offspring brings
a smile to her now wrinkled face,
The full circle of life she's reached at such a short space!

Mother Dearest, as you enter the twilight years of your life,
With love and gratitude I'll do all I can to be at your side.
Thank you mother for all you've given from the very start,
You are and will always be? Mother the queen of my heart!

Antonette De Cruze

Cinnamon; The flavour of Turkish cuisine

Almost every household in Asia will have small bundles of dark reddish brown cylindrical spice-cinnamon. Cinnamon is suitable for desserts where just a hint or a subtle sweet taste is desired. Cinnamon loureiroi, or Saigon cinnamon, has the highest content of essential oils.

Cinnamon was known to the Seljuk kitchens of the 11th to 14th centuries and became part of the rich culinary legacy bequeathed to Ottoman and to a lesser extent Turkish cuisine. The use of the spice continued throughout the centuries to be lost in the latter years of the Empire.

As late as the 19th century cinnamon was an important ingredient in dishes and also a condiment added when finishing a dish, much the same as salt and pepper are used these days.

In "A Manual of Turkish Cookery," written in English by Trabi Efendi in 1864, many a recipe calls to, "sprinkle a little cinnamon over, and serve." From soups to kebabs, stews and k”fte, dolma, pilaf and all manner of desserts cinnamon is mentioned. These days it is rare to see cinnamon used in savory dishes.

Cinnamon or cassia sticks can be kept for two to three years in the right conditions, in an airtight container away from heat and humidity. Grinding releases the aromatic scent of the spice and for this reason will not keep well for very long.

It is better to buy small amounts of freshly ground spice whenever required rather than store a larger quantity for any length of time. The choice of cinnamon or cassia depends of the purpose for which it is intended and sometime a blend of two will add the sweetness of true cinnamon with the bold aroma of cassia.

Cinnamon complements a number of recipes including cakes, sweet, pastries and biscuits, fruit (especially poached or stewed), curries and a range of dishes within older Turkish and Ottoman cuisine such as cold fish stews and soups.