Children

Gabon

Gabon is a country in West Central Africa sharing borders with the Gulf of Guinea to the West, Equatorial Guinea to the northwest and Cameroon to the North, with the Republic of the Congo curving around the East and South.

Its size is almost 270,000 kmý with an estimated population of 1,500,000. The capital and largest city is Libreville. Since its independence from France on August 17, 1960, the Republic has been ruled by three presidents. In the early 1990s, Gabon introduced a multi-party system and a new democratic constitution that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and reformed many governmental institutions.

The small population density together with abundant natural resources and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in the region, with the highest HDI in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The earliest inhabitants of the area were Pygmy peoples. They were largely replaced and absorbed by Bantu tribes as they migrated.

In the 15th Century, the first Europeans arrived. The nation's present name originates from 'Gabao', Portuguese for 'cloak', which is roughly the shape of the estuary of the Komo River by Libreville. French explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza led his first mission to the Gabon-Congo area in 1875.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

World Animal Day October 4:

Give voice to our voiceless friends

Dear Children,

I am sure this day is very close to your hearts. Do you have pets at home? I know most of you children have dogs and cats. Some of your friends may be even rearing parrots, squirrels and fish at home. World Animal Day was on October 4. It’s time to give a voice to our voiceless friends.

We often hear people say that dog is the best friend and we know many stories of how man has been rescued and saved by his faithful pet dog. There have even been occasions of humans being rescued by Dolphins.

Do we pay enough attention especially to the stray dog population? Just spare a thought for the stray dogs roaming about on the roads without proper shelter and food.

We however should be thankful to the many animal welfare associations who highlight the stray dog menace and its inherent danger. So, children please be careful if you come into contact with stray dogs.

Let us focus on the origin of this Day. It started in Florence, Italy in 1931 at a convention of ecologists. On this day, animal life in all its forms is celebrated and special events are planned on locations all over the globe.

Animal rescue shelters hold fundraising events and open days, wildlife groups organize information displays, schools undertake animal-related project work and individuals and groups of friends or co-workers donate to animal charities or pledge to sponsor a shelter animal.

World Habitat Day

World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world. It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986. The idea of the day is to reflect on the condition of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter. It also aims to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the habitat of future generations.

Unfortunately, due to the shortcomings in the urban planning system in many parts of the world we are experiencing negative consequences like overcrowding, poverty, slums and unemployment.

This year’s theme of World Habitat Day is ‘Planning Our Urban Future’ to raise awareness of the need to improve urban planning to deal with new major challenges of the 21st Century.

By the way congratulations to all of you who passed Grade Five Scholarship exam.

Bye for now.

- Aunt Anji

At the ‘Mythic Scope’ - Part 57

By Uncle Sachi and Aunt Ruwi

The story so far...

Pramodaka, Nalaka, Champika and Chinthaka go on a trip to the woods with their parents for their school holidays. In the middle of the night the children are awakened by a strange noise. On following their dog, Scooby, Chinthaka is snared by the age old spell of the ‘luring stones’.

Pramodaka departs with Ruwi, a pixie, to recall a book of spell to cast off the spell while Nalaka, Champika and the dog remain behind with Sachi, a gnome who updates them on the life of mythical creatures.

Shamilka, a friend of the mythical creatures joins in and they begin hunting for Pramodaka and Ruwi as there is no sign of their return. Just as they were coming to terms with the fact that they were lost, six rabbits scamper along the way. The rabbits take pity upon the children and agree to guide them part of the way. Meanwhile Sulo, the goblin who is always trying to make trouble for the mythical creatures, grabs a basket of goodies from a gnome named Russell and makes off. Scooby scents her and attacks.

Ruwi senses that Russell is in danger but she also gets the strange feeling that there is a mysterious link between Pramodaka. Suddenly a storm breaks out and Pramodaka, Nalaka and Champika are blown away with the wind. As they make their way back to their friends Sulo notices them and comes up with a nasty plan. She rushes off gang up the rest of her pack. There she reveals a secret that could hold the key to all the goblin’s troubles.

There is a sudden break of trouble in the pixie camp as one of the pixies, Dina, develops weird symptoms. Emida, a middle-aged gnome goes in search of peace and stumbles upon a discovery...

“Where is HE?” Pramu whispered as he regarded the activity with wide eyes.

Sachi shrugged and approached a short and dark gnome who was lazily sprawled on a chair staring at what seemed to be a misty screen.

“Seen HE?” he asked.

“Not for some time...” he yawned, stretching himself. There was a card stuck to his attired with the letters ‘JVK’ printed on it. The letters seemed to be dazzling in the light of the screen and the gnome polished the surface with his handkerchief and glanced at it with great pride.

Ruwi shook her head.

“We have to find him quickly. We have to put a notice in the ‘Mythic Scope’,” she said as she stood next to a tall, well-built gnome. He had a similar card with the letters ‘IIEI’ pinned on his shirt. He did not even bother to look up at her but she noted with some satisfaction that at least he was engrossed in his task and doing a good job of it.

“Get someone to repeat the password and contact him,” he said and finally looked up at her with pleading eyes. Ruwi sighed again. There was a time when these gnomes and pixies had been very cooperative with them and pleasant but that was before HE came along.

His Excellency (also known as HE among the forest creatures) was a lanky and fair skinned gnome who was in charge of overlooking the process of the ‘Mythic Scope’ the manuscript of the mythical creatures.

Things have started off well when the ‘Mythic Scope’ had first made an appearance but later it had become a monopoly for HE to exercise his power over the pixies, gnome and the forest creatures.

Both Ruwi and Sachi had been dismayed at the turn of events and had tried to cooperate till things have reached an unbearable point with HE turning against them and finding faults with every move that they had made. Finally the two friends have left HE to handle matters of the ‘Mythic Scope’ with the less unfortunate souls working with an under him.

“‘IBB’ and ‘IIEI’ are our friends but they are afraid to act against HE. We will either make life miserable for them there or vanquish them,” Sachi had explained to a downcast Ruwi when the two had set off from the ‘Mythic Scope’ two weeks ago.

Ruwi shrugged at Sachi.

“Looks like we are on our own. There is no one to help us,” she mouthed.

Sachi gave JVK a look and approached the main oracle.

“Um... I don’t exactly remember the password...” he began taking the ear code into his hand and jumped as a voice boomed across the room.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” it snarled.

To be continued

Srilankawe Adhiwaseen

Indigenous people in Sri Lanka a book written by Sulakna Isini was launched at the National Institute of Education Maharagama on september 24. Director General of the National Institute of Education Professor Lal Parera was the chief guest at the occasion.

Principal of St.Bridget Convent Rev. Sr. Sharmila Jayawardena was the guest of honour, Directors, officers of the N.I.E. teachers and students of St.Bridget Convent were there to grace this occasion.

Sulakna has reffered the Mahavanseya too.

Sulakna Nirmala Isini Fernando is a Grade six student of St.Bridget Convent.

Nimsara’s Kingdoms of Sri Lanka launched

Mahaweli Systems corr.

A grade nine student having his formal education at a remote school has written a book to describe what he knows of the ancient kingdoms of Sri Lanka.

Thirteen year old Nimsara Nawanjana Jayasundara of Anuradhapura Central College has tried to explain to the reader how the ancient kingdoms of Sri Lanka existed during the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Yaapahuwa, Kandy and other eras, through his creation. The book titled ‘Kingdoms of Sri Lanka’ is written in English. The young author recently presented the first copies of the Kingdoms of Sri Lanka to his father and mother Kumaradasa Jayasundara and W. H. K. Herath Menika of the teaching staff of the Nochchiyagama Central College.

World Children’s Day celebrations
 

Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva hands over balloons to children during the World Children’s Day program held at LRH, Colombo.

A ceremony to mark Universal Children’s Day organized by the principal and the tutorial staff of Junior section of the Gurukula National School, Kelaniya was held at the school premises last Monday. Here some of the children engaged in group activities. Picture by Edward Weerasinghe, Kelaniya Group correspondent

Telephone B. Mothumitha, Grade 5 Kingston College International Wellawatte	Beautiful Kite M. Dilan, Grade 1 Kingston College International, Wellawatte
At The Temple Fathima Ridhwanah Fawz, 6B Sailan International School, Negombo