An innovative Idea for empowering children was organized in the form of Don Bosco Children’s Parliament which was held on 12th March 2025 at the Don Bosco Provincial House outdoor stadium. A total of 45 student representatives from Pitipana Maha Vidyalaya, St. Anthony’s Vidyalaya (Mankuliya), St. Peter’s College (Basiyawatta), Secondary School (Dungalpitiya), and Thalahena Maha Vidyalaya participated in the event.
Special guests included Rev. Fr. Viraj Chamara (Executive Director of DBDC), Rev. Fr. Robin Fernando, and officials from the Divisional Secretariat, Skill Development Office, Probation and Child Care Services, and the National Child Protection Authority. Also present were the police Officer-in-Charge of the Child affairs and Women’s Bureau, the medical officer of health from the Ministry of Health (Negombo), and Grama Niladhari officers from Dungalpitiya and Pitipana North. Principles of the schools, teachers, and students also attended the programme.
The main goal of the event was to give an experience to the children of how the democratic process functions and to enhance their leadership qualities and sensitivity towards common problems.
The programme was well-organized, and all the representatives actively took part in the discussions. At the end of the event, Rev. Fr. Viraj Chamara and some government officials appreciated the students’ very practical contributions by way of identifying not only existential problems that affect them and other children but also very practical solutions for the problems.
