Diriya Daruwo, the leadership and motivational workshop conducted in partnership with SriLankan Cares, has already achieved considerable success in positively contributing to the lives of more than a thousand schoolchildren in rural areas throughout the country.
No less than nine programmes have been carried out in different towns – Ingiriya, Ratnapura, Kandy, Galle, Matale, Kurunegala, and Nuwara Eliya – reaching out to boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 16.
The 2-day workshop involves 150-200 youngsters, teaching them lessons for life that they rarely confront in their educational curriculum. This unique programme uses participatory tools such as dramas, role plays, debates, music, dance and comedy to bring out the hidden talent of youngsters, introducing and reinforcing teamwork, leadership, communication, decision making, planning, initiative, creativity and interacting with new acquaintances,
Janaki Hill, who heads the Diriya Daruwo programme said: “Children need something different to develop their personalities. In school they simply learn what teachers teach them, which in itself is geared towards passing exams. They seldom go beyond the syllabus and develop inquiring minds. It often takes several years after leaving school that they find out who they really are – their talents and dreams - which is something they should have the opportunity to do as teenagers.”
Children are placed in five different groups, with each group comprising children of perhaps 20 schools. These groups must compete over the two days, earning plus points and minus points for their performances. Prizes and certificates are awarded to outstanding participants including best actor/actress, best communicator, best leader and best singer. The workshop is concluded with a performance by the children for their parents and teachers incorporating all they have learnt and acquired within the two days.
The Diriya Daruwo team is comprised mainly of stage actors and dancers, who have the ability to bring out the best in children through years of entertaining different types of audiences. The team includes Suchithra Mangala, Anuruddha Silva, Samantha Wijesinghe, Koshala Harshani, and Reshan Wediwardhana.
SriLankan Cares takes a special interest in the project as it coincides with its core objective of empowering the future of the nation through education, good health and a clean environment. |
