I have me

When I am alone and hard times come my way
I see the silver lining in these cloud of grey.
When in the darkness the road ahead I cannot see.
I am not afraid, I can face the world, I have me.

When there is not one friend to be found
No need of anybody I have me around.
When life brings tears and I don't know what to do
I have me to give me strength, to help guide me through.

When life is uncertain and days are filled with pain
I wait for the rainbow that come after the rain
When my pockets are empty, not a dime to spend
I still count my blessing I have me as a friend.

When no one is bothered to listen and to care
I have me; I don't need anyone out there.
I have me to encourage me; I have me to be proud.
I have me and everyday I shout it out loud.

Rukkaiya Ramzy
Ikra International Girls' School

A person who I admire

In my life I am inspired most by my parents. They do whatever to make me happy. They need to make me a disciplined child. When I was a child, my mother gave me milk and my father brought food and toys for me.

From that day, I learnt how to work, write and to do everything. My parents knew I had a talent in drawing. They co-operate with me. And my parents are behind my success. My parents have a dream, to make me an artist.

They taught me how to associate with friends, how to be a citizen in society, how to help others, etc.

They are my first teachers. To make them happy I will do anything. When I win a competition, they are very happy. They protect me like their eyes. I am here because of them.

They do not scold me at all. I love my parents. When I become big, I will make them happy and make their dream come true.

Harshani Meepegama
(Grade 9)
Sujatha Vidyalaya,
Nugegoda

Awesome oceans

We have five oceans to explore, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, the Arctic and the Southern Ocean. All five oceans flow into one another, making up one gigantic body of water. The largest ocean is the Pacific, it is bigger than the other four put together, and large enough to swallow all the continents.

This water is salty, of course, unlike the fresh water of lakes and rivers. Each ocean contains smaller bodies of salty water, called seas, bays or gulfs. Together, the oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface and contains nearly 98% of all its water! We have a number of seas on the Earth.

Trenches are the deepest parts of the ocean. The deepest is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific which is more than 11 kilometres (almost seven miles), below the water's surface. It could even swallow the world's highest mountain, 8,848 metre Mount Everest and still leave its peak, 1.6 kilometres (one mile) below the surface. So be careful when exploring the oceans!

Russel Valentine
(12 years)
St. Joseph's College

Ramadan

The ceremonial month for Muslims is the month of Ramadan. We should start fasting before daybreak and continue till sunset.

It's a must for Muslims to avoid food or drinks in between this period.

Our body constitutes of bones, muscles and blood. But Allah has given us a soul. Our homeland is heaven, this earth is a place of trial for us.

The gates of paradise arrive in the holy month of Ramadan. During this month, we should give Zakath to the poor and needy. This is the month we feel the hunger which the poor in this world really feel.

Huda Begum
Minaret High School