‘Konnichi wa’. Now don’t be alarmed kids, we were just saying hello to you in Japanese! We learnt some Japanese phrases at the Galle Children’s Festival last Saturday.

The Galle Children’s Festival took place in the Galle Fort from October 11 – 14, 2012 . Different events took place on each of these days and the Funday Times spent some time at the festival on Saturday which was the Galle Children’s Festival Community Day.

It was indeed a fun day for the children. The Law Court Square in the Galle Fort, transformed into a children’s tent city filled with activities, while performances and presentations took place around the Square. We were able to play scrabble, learn the

Sri Lankan sign language, do pottery paintings, cook and even learn self-defense techniques along with many other interesting things.

At one tent, Manoj Uncle from the Volunteer Village introduced sign language to us. “We came here to teach little children sign language because most people in Sri Lanka don’t understand the importance of it. With what we taught at the
festival, children can have a decent conversation with a person who has speaking defects,” said Manoj Uncle.
With his help we were able to speak to a teacher with hearing defects, Suranga Udani, who came with her colleagues to teach wastepaper craft.

She told us that they were able to create photo frames, earrings, necklaces and many more items using
recycled magazines and newspapers. Using what we learnt, we were able to make our own wastepaper wristbands.
Next we learnt origami and shodo from the aunties of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). They taught the children Japanese paper craft and calligraphy in Sinhala! Ogura Tomoko from JICA told us they enjoyed
spending their time with the children who came to the Festival.

At another stall, JICA taught Western Music and Japanese songs. Miyuki, Saeko and Makiko together were able to teach us a couple of Japanese songs which we found very hard at first. “We loved working with the children of Sri Lanka because they were ready to learn what we taught them, ” they told us.

Aislin Sheldo, a volunteer from England was at the pottery painting tent. She said the time spent at the Galle Children’s Festival was very exciting and the children were very keen to learn everything the festival offered.

Madeeha Athas, a student from Sacred Heart Convent, Galle, said she enjoyed the day. “I came with my brother and
cousins and we were able to learn a lot at the festival. I enjoyed making earrings and other creations from
wastepaper the most.

Now we can make our own jewel ware from the papers we throw away at home,” she said. Raqaiya Anver also from Sacred Heart Convent told us she enjoyed playing scrabble. “It was a very interesting game and the uncles taught us to play it,” she said.
“We were able to make hats for the parade and we also learnt about endangered animals,” said Ayana Amarasena from Ladies College, Colombo, who came with her family. She learnt about endangered animals from Jan Latta who is an author and photographer from Australia.

Pasindu Dihara from Christ Church Boys School, Galle was an eager little kid who was making his own sand art creation. “I met many friends at the festival and I am glad we were able to participate in an event like this,” he said.

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