The Sathkara school: "...becoming the practice of freedom"

"Education either functions as an instrument that is used to facilitate the younger generation into the logic of the present system, or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which women and men deal critically and actively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world."   -   Cy Houle, 1963.

For a decade, the Sathkara school in Dolahena has conducted afternoon classes and given arts, drama, music and dance education to the local children and young people, free of school fees. An important aim, according to Siripala Gamage, has been to help young people think independently and to be active themselves. The lessons do not stand or fall with the teacher, much is expected from the students themselves. There is plenty of room for personal involvement, experiential learning and pursuits for meaning of life.

So then, how has the Sathkara programme influenced the former Sathkara students? Some years ago they were all young teenagers. Now, they are perhaps 18-22 years old, fulfilling secondary or higher education or searching for their first job. Some have even married and started a family. Are they still willing to volunteer for social action, environment-friendly development and peace?



Madhava මාධව and Anusha

Siripala invited many of his former students to an evening class at the Centre on Wednesday 26 February. Twenty Sathkara students-of-the-past came. Mr. Anusha Gajaweera and his friend Kaushalya Madhava Pathirane were responsible for the programme, presenting two short films made by Madhava - “Three Tickets to Anuradhapura” and “Colour Lights”. Both works tell stories from contemporary Sri Lanka. The evening class discussed the narrative and the deeper communication of the documentaries. At first, the young people kept silent, holding back their opinions, but gradually, they spoke their mind. During the next hour of early night, they developed the idea of gather into small groups, bringing their mobiles and cameras, to make short documentaries from daily life, their family, their local village and town. Topic: “Telling an untold story…” Madhava and Anusha promised to assist with equipment and film editing. To conclude, the young people decided to meet again and present their visual results, turning the coming event into a film making competition for the whole village.

Here are the two documentaries, produced by Madhava as part of his diploma studies: