last update 15 August 2005
Picture book “Alipencha – little elephant”
In 1997, the Sri Lanka Government announced an intent to standardize early childhood education practices. Since then early childhood care and development has been changing and improving preschool education. SVS has begun to focus on acting as a liaison between isolated preschools and government by promoting suitable programs to improve overall development.
The Preschool Picture Book Box Project “Alipencha” is intended to assist the government in developing education further by providing non-stressful experiences with picture books that allow children to explore and develop their language and literacy skills. In addition, picture books take important role to introduce and promote multicultural understanding.
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What is Alipencha?
Alipencha is a unique project for preschool children and parents especially from rural areas where limited reading materials are available.
“Alipencha” is focused on literacy learning but also lays the groundwork for developing creativity.
Children can choose the picture book they want and take it home for the weekend.
Parent-child interaction increases and parents are more involved in preschool activities and learn more about their children.
Parents are empowered to become teachers of their own children!
Teacher-child interaction in the classroom is natural and building extending conversations.
Progress Report
SVS received two grants for this project.
Special thanks to: Japan International Cooperation System and The Peace Stone Foundation.
The next stage we have been working to expand picture book publication in Sri Lanka.
3 April 2005
Alipencha book box libraries have been distributed to almost all preschools in our small groups in 5 areas of Sri Lanka. This successful project is still expanding, but in the next stage we have been working to expand picture book publication in Sri Lanka. We have been working with one of Sri Lankafs leading author/illustrators, Sybil Wettasinghe, and have held a workshop for authors, illustrators and publishers after which the picture book, Smiles from Sri Lanka was published. The “Alipencha Picture Book Series” was launched with the publication of “Wash, Wash, Wash” and in publication now, “A Lantern for Wesak”. The Peace Stone Foundation in Japan has again funded this programme for twelve months to help develop quality picture books for young children in Sri Lanka. A workshop with Sybil Wettasinghe and other illustrators will be held in May. Work will continue and will culminate with the publication of several new picture books.
Alipencha picture book workshop
16 August 2005
SVS organized a picture book illustrators workshop on August 5,6 in Colombo. Sybil Wettasinghe led this workshop. She discussed children and picture books, expression of the story by art, and Sri Lanka picture book culture. Then she explained her drawing technique and choice of brush and watercolor pencils. All the participants were very excited at this rare opportunity to see up close Sybil’s technique. They had many questions and exchanged and shared ideas.
The next step is to make a “dummy sketch” for printing pictures. Each participating illustrator made sample illustrations. Sybil will close this series of workshops by teaching more techniques and will be printing picture books later this year by SVS.
(Funded by The Peace Stone Foundation grant project, 2005)
Photo Gallery
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