Missaka Preschool

The public Missaka Mihiri Preschool was established at Maradankalla in 1995 and moved to nearby Karadikkulama village in 2005 for better facilities.  There are 18 kids enrolled now and Monira, a young woman from the same village is the teacher. She is doing a fantastic job of teaching them songs, reading stories and learn through play.  Occasionally, the kids get treated to ice cold popsicles or delicious cones of ice cream from an ice cream vendor who rides his bicycle along the gravel road by the school house.   In the summer of 2005 Mihiri took half dozen boxes of toys and kids eyes widened as they held the toys and played with them.   This June, We visited the preschool again with more books and toys, and taught the kids for a few days.  They were really excited to see us!

Here are some pictures of the happy preschoolers!

The inaugural class (1995)               

                                      11 years later!    Look what I got!!                            Charlini, a returning  US volunteer 

           Mihiri and Charlini teaching the kids

Aren't these kids adorable?    

Monira, the preschool teacher