Summer 2008:

Peace Gang Summer Camp

The Peace Gang of the Farmington Valley Area of Connecticut held their first annual Peace Gang Camp.  This three day event was a wonderful, educational and exciting time and was enjoyed by all.  Led by Bernadine Anderson, Tracy Bernard and a host of dedicated volunteers, the children learned about peace through story, song, lessons and  crafts, all with a special emphasis on caring for our planet earth and our natural resources. One highlight of the camp was a trip to the Connecticut Recycling Center so the children could see the process of recycling beginning with what they can do at home through the creation of new products from plastic and paper waste.  Please visit our gallery to see pictures of this exciting summer camp.

PTK (Phi Theta Kappa) Volunteers travel to the Bridge2Peace School to Teach English

July 8th four students and one advisor traveled from California to Sri Lanka to have a chance to work and teach the children of the Bridge2Peace School. The group spent four weeks immersed in the culture of Sri Lanka and the rural village where the school is located.  Their volunteer efforts extended to the teachers and the families of the students.  So much was learned by all!    Watch for more information and pictures on their trip coming soon.

Spring 2008:

Fundraiser held in Farmington, Connecticut
 
A wonderful and successful fundraiser took place late spring to raise awareness and funds for the Bridge2Peace School.  Masks from Sri Lanka (decorated by the children of the school, parents and teachers) and many area artists were available along with many other items through a silent auction.  A festive evening was shared by all and included an update and slideshow of the recent happenings at the school.  Please visit our gallery for more pictures of the event.

April 2008

Fundraiser Event, Farmington Connecticut                               

On Saturday April 26th we will be hosting a fundraiser for the Bridge2Peace School in Farmington, Connecticut.  Featured at the fundraiser will be a silent auction to benefit the School.  In addition to some beautiful surprise items available at the auction, we will feature hand decorated masks from the children and parents of the Bridge2Peace School in Lunugamvehera, Sri Lanka as well as many local artists from Connecticut.    For more information please contact SusanPMurphy@Comcast.net.
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We are so blessed to have parents that care so much about the Bridge2Peace School for their children.  In Lunugamvehera the children and parents collaborated on the decoration of two masks.  A third mask was painted by the teachers of Bridge2Peace.  Artist Toni Iovine facilitated the process into four steps: sketching, designing, painting and thoughts.  Thankfully everyone was enthusiastic to participate in the project since a full day was needed to successfully complete the project.

The masks that were selected for inclusion in the project are very special, the first mask is Gurulu, the mythical bird on which the Hindu god Vishnu rode is believed to bring friendship and harmony.  Gini, the second mask, is a fire mask and is believed to bring popularity & power.  The third mask, the Peacock, is believed to bring peace and prosperity. The symbolism of these masks date back to pre-Buddhist times when Sri Lanka was an agricultural based society.

Special Note on Mask Making from Toni Iovine:
 
“ It was wonderful to be out in Lunugamvehera at Bridge2Peace that day and hopefully as tensions ease I'll be out there again soon. I started the project immediately upon arrival, since I was grateful the parents met during the weekend. The morning started off well. The first step was to sketch the masks and then explore designs before applying the paint and concluding with written thoughts. It was great to see the enthusiasm and focus. The parents rarely have time or the means to sit and draw so the worried looks of what to do surrounded me. But after discussing how to get started they were producing some great sketches with careful strokes and thoughtful detail. They were so honored and proud their work was going to the US they poured so much heart and soul into it. The letters they wrote after drawing were heart felt. They thanked all that support B2P since it has been a “beacon of hope” for their children. The school has provided a great education and opportunity for their children to become “good citizens in their town”.”

March 2008

Peace Curriculum for Parents

The first parent peace workshop will take place on the 4th of March at La Petit Fleur, Colombo, which is opened to all parents. This will initiate the peace gang in Sri Lanka. The peace curriculum is being implemented at both sister schools in Dehiwela, La Petit Fleur & LPF Academy, Titthagala Montessori House of Children in Galle and Tiny Workers in Mount Lavinia.

February 2008

PTK Raises Funds for Water Well

Nevada-California Chapters of PTK (Phi Theta Kappa) have raised over $2,500 specifically to fund the construction of one deep tube water well in rural Lunugamvehera.  Additional support has been provided by Butte College’s PTK Chapter along with four other colleges.

Dr. Lalith Pinto Jayawardena, a civil engineer, who is an International Water Management Consultant, volunteered his services on his birthday to assess the area where a tube well is to be built in Lunugumvehera.   Dr Jayawardena’s  methods were unobtrusive and placed sole importance on the community's needs and presence in the development of the project. Ownership and cooperation were key elements in his strategies to empower the villager to commandeer it.

Peace Curriculum Training and Visit by Chandra Fernando

Chandra Fernando, a Montessori teacher and teacher trainer for over 30 years, visited La Petit Fleur (Bridge2Peace’s sister school in Colombo) and LPF Academy in Dehiwela on February 15, 2008. The children greeted her with their peace song, which Liesl, a dedicated teacher trainer and administrator at B2P, wrote after Chandra's last inspiring visit with them. Chandra walked the children through a breathing exercise to demonstrate how to find peace within yourself. Then the teachers were all gathered together for a workshop where Chandra offered comments and suggestions on the peace curriculum work at La Petit Fleur thus far.   Chandra visited the Bridge2Peace School in Lunugamvehera during her last trip to the area.

The peace curriculum was introduced with Chandra's visit to LPF Academy. Chandra read her book, "Peace Begins with Me" to the children and afterwards they bid her farewell with a few peace songs. Chandra's visit to LPF Academy has prompted a peace committee, daily meditations and a peace table in each classroom.

PTK Paints for Bridge2Peace

PTK (Phi Theta Kappa) Students and Faculty at Skyline College design and complete a beautiful painting for the children at Bridge2Peace School.  Additionally they are creating a picture that our young students can paint themselves and display proudly in their school.

January 2008

Bridge2Peace Selected as Best Program to Promote Peace

Sri Lankan TV station TNL (Teleshan Network Limited) recently did a search called “No War Zone” throughout the country for the best programs to promote peace.  Bridge2Peace, with its concept of peace through education and its Peace Curriculum was chosen as the most hopeful and inspiring program.  With the generous help of all those who contribute to Bridge2Peace we have put into practice a sound and logical alternative to the status quo.  Instead of despair, there is hope, hope that comes from the smallest child and rises up through the families and adults of Lunugamvehera.

First Graduates of Teacher Training Program

The first group of teachers from the Teacher Training Program in Lunugamvehera graduate!    Eight women successfully completed the teacher training program.  Two of the teachers will remain at the Bridge2Peace School and the remaining six teachers will return to their villages and put into practice the Montessori Early Education and Peace Curriculums that they have been studying.

B2P Till    2008 – By Amjad Buhary 
 
The B2P till was a huge surprise to me. it is a beautiful story about B2P and a little boy of 11 years.
I explained to him what LGV was all about and the generosity of B2P. He asked me what B2P was all about and how many children the school had. I told him the way it was and how people could make a difference in their lives.

His mother calls me to find out what I had done to her son. To my amazement “Amjad Buhary “ an eleven year old boy who is very savvy on the computer had checked out the B2P website and pasted B2P label on a can to collect money to buy the kids Christmas gifts.
He was doing chores, and his pocket money went into the till. The cash he received from his grand father and granduncle for his festival was also in the till. He was encouraging his friends in the neighborhood to do the same as they could make a difference.
He did collect plenty of cash and his father donated the difference to buy 56 kids gifts for Christmas. Well now you know how the kids ended up with more gifts than expected.
 Not only did he collect the funds for the gifts…he educated his friends parents about the poor kids in LGV and all about B2P.

Painting of the LGV Montessori - 2008

Nazim, Tara and son Amjad Buhary visited the LGV Montessori School in Sri Lanka. One visit and he knew he had to help in anyway possible. He decided to donate the paint to paint the school.  We thank Nazim, Tara, and Amjad Buhary and Mr. Kirthi Samarasooriya at Petrokem for the generosity in providing the paint, and making the school beautiful.

Painting itself was done by the LGV parents, teachers, B2P volunteers of Sri Lanka, Liesl, Tharanga and Nanga.

Painting of the furniture was done by the LGV. Teacher’s Liesl, Tharanga, and the mothers. The B2P Logo was hand painted by
By Liesl Nugara. Now this school stands Proudly with a beautiful makeover in 2008.

Midcoast Montessori, Maine, USA. Furniture 2008

Thank You for the generosity in donating the furniture from Midcoast Montessori. Not only did you make the school beautiful.

The school was able to open a new class using the furniture you donated. It has a “Special Needs Class.” now. The pictures of the children will show the difference it has made.
The furniture from Main, USA, arrived the day the school was painted. With Joy and laughter the teachers and parents helped to unload the furniture. Please see the pictures on the website.  
THANK YOU, MIDCOAST MONTESSORI.

 Be The Cause Visits LGV Montessori -2008

Be The Cause Visited LGV. Montessori in Jan 2008. They taught English to the children in the morning and the teachers in the afternoon. They met the parents and bonded with the village.
They played games and soccer was introduced with the soccer balls donated by the PTK of California.

It was sad to see them leave. We hope you will visit us again.

 Aunty Jeanne visits LGV-2008

The day started at the Peace Pole. With a prayer, meditation,  singing of  the peace song and ringing of the peace bell.

Aunty Jeanne visited LGV and brought one of their favorite fruits, “Apples”

The classes began for the day with songs and work, a snack and the treat was the Apples from Aunty Jeanne
Goodbyes were said worshiping the teachers and Aunty Jeanne to receive blessings. It was a fun day for Aunty Jeanne and the children at LGV.

LGV Anniversary 2008

The Anniversary celebrations began with the Peace Pole ceremony.

The Buddhist Priest arrived with the “Karaduwa” which is the offering. The children washed the priest’s feet.
It started with Banna and meditation. The priest blessed the school and the children.  Alms were given to the priests and once the priest left, the LGV children, teachers, parents and the visitors took part in the alms…sharing the meal together.

LGV. Vesak Celebration 2008

“Vesak” is celebrated for the “Ipadeema, Buduweema & Piriniwanpame ( Birth, Enlightenment and Passing away of Lord Buddha).

 The children, parents and teachers celebrated it with the making of the lanterns. They participated in lightening of the lanterns at night.

LGV Poson Celebration -2008

Arahath Mahinda brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. It was celebrated with a “Dansala”  (Dansala-means feeding the poor) at the school in LGV.  

With A Herbal hot tea, Cookies and bananas the people walking on the road was requested to partake in the celebration. The children of LGV served over one thousand people with these refreshments.

In the evening a “Pandol” was made by the parents of the children and lit at nighttime to celebrate Poson 2008.

LGV. Silent Journey – 2008

Liesl Nugara and Tharanga Hettiarachchi conducted “Silent Journey”. It is to educate the Parents of the children regarding the Montessori method.

LGV. Special Needs Class – 2008

LGV Montessori was able to open up a Special Needs Class in 2008. Teacher Chandini, showers her love taking care of Nipun, Kavinda, Kaviskka and Dasun in the special needs class.

Thank You, Midcoast Montessori of Maine, USA for the donation of furniture to this class.

LGV. Library Makeover – 2008 

Library makeover took place in 2008.  The generosity of the
“Andre Olenicoff Foundation” has helped to set up a library for the children of LGV and the entire village.
We wish to name the Library “Andre’s Reading Room”. All at B2P America, Sri Lanka and the New Town School of Lunuganvehera Thank the Olenicoff family in California, USA for their generosity in helping a poor village in Sri Lanka. 

P.T.K. Visits LGV. 2008 

P.T.K. visited Sri Lanka in July 2008. They came from California, USA during their summer break to a Country unknown to them.
They came to help children and teachers of LGV. Montessori

They flourished among strangers as budding flowers. A few days among the Sri Lankan and one wondered if they were natives of this island.

They taught the children and the teachers English, Sports and fellowship. They organized field trips and the children visited the Viravilla airport and was taken on a plane ride and educated on airplanes. For children who had seen planes in the sky and never traveled in one it was an exciting and fun day. Thank you P.T.K. for giving much joy to our kids. La petite Fleur Ratmalana, La Petite Fleur Academy, Dehiwalla and the B2P Montessori in Lunuganvehera welcomed their visit. We Thank You for visiting us P.T.K. it was sad to see you go.

A Day In The LGV.Montessori 2008

The day begins with prayer & meditation at the Peace Pole. Singing of the peace song and ringing of the peace bell.

The children are taken to class and a circle is formed to discuss the day’s work. Children take mats to work on. Some prefer to sit at a desk and the work begins. From painting, to reading, writing, math, pounding, pouring, singing they enjoy the day. They love playing out side in the grounds. The snack time is a favorite time for them. They love gifts from visitors. Especially Grapes & apples.

After snack it is the circle again for singing, poems. The day ends with singing the national Anthem. They thank & wish their teachers goodbye by worshiping them by touching the teacher’s feet. It is a means of asking blessings for the day.

Parents come in bicycles, trishaw or some take the bus home after a wonderful day in school.

New Town Lunugamvehera Graduation - 2007

The graduation was an exciting event for the teachers to be proud of the results of their dedication. A group of beautiful girls & boys were dressed in white reminding one of little white doves. With smiles on their faces and as proud as one could be they walked on to the podium to be presented with a Diploma as proof of their achievements.

Their achievements were plenty, from Math to Reading, Writing & speaking three different languages Sinhalese, Tamil & English.

With tears and pride in their eyes, parents watched their children receiving   the merits of their hard work. It was a Joyful event to see Children who came to school in fear and doubt at the beginning walking in with confidence and great big smiles for the graduation. It was obvious that they had brought joy to all who were responsible in their education. B2P Organization, Parents, Teachers and all who made this day possible. It was a memorable for the entire village.

Concert December 2007

The teachers and parents of LGV organized the concert. The performers of course were the children of LGV Montessori.
The concert consisted of ten items of Speech, Dance, Song and Drama. The performances were outstanding. The welcome speeches were presented in three different languages. They were phenomenal.

• Sinhalese – Pradeep Maduranga
• English - Ishara Sewandi
• Tamil – Sithni Amasha

All ten items were written and choreographed by the LGV Montessori teachers. Mr. Wijedasa and the parents took pride in assisting in all the preparations.
The children who came with fear in their eyes at the beginning of school ended the year with confidence, excitement, laughter and joy.
 
New Town Lunuganvehera Year End Concert pictures prove that the effort, time and care given to the children have not been in vain. The concert went on from one applause to another. How could one develop so much confidence in such a short time?  With great Teachers & people who care at the New Town  Lunuganvehera Montessori.

LGV Christmas 2007

 Santa’ in Lunugamvehera? Yes he did visit the poorest of the poor village, not alone but with a beautiful clown to give joy to our kids. Joy they did give. They danced through the village in a van to the LGV School saying HO! HO! HO!  The kids were in awe and Mona Lisa would have been jealous of their smiles. I simply watched kid by kid. Every child was laughing and singing,
“Here comes Santa Clause “.  Santa and the Clown danced and made not only the kids but also us adults forget our ages.
 Thank You, Rochelle & Viro for a wonderful day.

Santa handed out gifts. They received gifts as never before. Toys, and healthcare needs, clothes, books and more. The clothes healthcare needs and many more were given by the parents and students of La Petite Fleur & Academy for the entire year. Thank you Parents and students for your generosity and making a difference in a child’s life.
The food the gifts and the fun they received with Santa coming to town were amazing. The departure of Santa and the clown was again to “Jingle Bells”. The kids were giggling out of control. It was great   to be a child.

Ladies in Connecticut and all who have helped the LGV Montessori thank you for your compassionate hearts. It is great to know that people care what happens to a small village in Sri Lanka.
It has made a huge difference in the children and the entire village. Children are fed, women are educated, and parents are happy to know that their kids have received what they are not able to give…. especially a meal a day. This is the happiness you have given this village. It is heart warming to know it is a kind world and people do care.

Ayanthi & Dayanthi Teaches English & Nature – 2007

Ayanthi & Dayanthi visited LGV Montessori on December 2007 to teach English And Birds of Sri Lanka.

Dayanthi started with English songs. The children will remember the songs that were taught by Aunty Dayanthi. The one they love the most is still sung daily called the “Fruit Salad Song”.

Ayanthi a lover of Birds and nature spoke to the children about the birds of Sri Lanka. The enthusiasm shown by the children was amazing. She showed them the birds of Lunuganvehera. The children look up to the trees to see the birds in LGV.
The picture of the bird on the website with the long white tail is called, ”Sudu Redihora” (White cloth Rogue).
It was a fun day and the children asked the Aunties to visit them again.

Friends Sharing 2007-2008

The pictures on the website shows how the children react to each other. They have best friends. Take part in sports. Plays together &  Share the toys. They cook in the old fashioned way.  Make chocolate. Cut vegetables, make coconut milk and have fun. They used coconut shells as utensils. The tree house was hand made by the parents.

December 2007

The first group of students (twenty six in total) graduated from the Bridge2Peace School.  

The graduation at B2P took place on December 9, 2007 and the Chief of Police, Assistant Government Agent Officer, Medical Officer, Wijedasa and parents were speakers bidding the children much success. All of the dignitaries noticed the growth of the twenty-six graduates had undergone and commented on what great citizens they will all make. The children greeted and spoke at the ceremony in all three languages: Tamil, Sinhala and English. Also, in a month's time all of the children attending the school learned a dance routine. The 6 performances were a great success! The costumes, dance moves, stage set-up, and food preparations were all fit for royalty. Fittingly so, since the graduates accomplished one of many great milestones to come in their lives.

PTK’s Christmas Shoe Drive

A very special holiday party was hosted by Zoie Lewandowski of the Alpha Omega Rho Chapter of PTK.  The price of admission was to pick a specific child shoe size and purchase a pair of sneakers!   58 pairs of sneakers were purchased and shipped to the Bridge2Peace School along with new blue shirts for every child. 

“Be The Cause” visits Lunugamvehera

In December a group of volunteers from non profit group “Be the Cause” visited the Bridge2Peace in Lunugamvhera.  Their mission was to help teach English to the children, and while they were here they did that and much more….  lots of singing and dancing, much laughter and smiles all around. Visit www.bethecause.org for more information on their organization.