How I foster sustainable development in my country
(Original)

Saradha Weerasekara
(Age 12, Sri Lanka)
Children’s Art Circle, Colombo

Environment means the surrounding we live in, which includes people, plants, animals and every other living and non living things in the world. Environment is very important as it helps  us to live in peace and harmony and health.

As it is a developing country, Sri Lanka needs to pay a lot of attention to the environment. Today Sri Lanka faces many problems regarding the environment. Soil erosion, deforestation, pollution, sea erosion, high temperature, food problem are some of them.

After the Tsunami tragedy in 2004, the problems got worst. The government of Sri Lanka tries their very best to get rid of those problems. Out of those problems, food problem is the most important one. Because anyone cannot live without water and food for days. Today some countries like Sudan, Ethiopia are suffering from starvation. Sri Lanka is not like that, but if the conditions continued, there will be a danger in the near future. As an example, the oil price is going up than ever before.

As a government, it is very difficult to face all those problems. So as citizens we should help. And I think it is our duty too. After thinking about all those things and the future of ours and younger generation, I have started a small project.

With the help of my parents, I started growing some essential vegetable plants in my home garden. First I prepared the earth for the plants. I bought seeds from the market. My agriculture teacher at school helped me by giving instructions to prepare vegetable beds.

Earlier I had only four or five types of vegetable plants like spinach, green chilies, brinjals and capsicums. Now there are many other vegetable plants like ladies fingers, drumsticks, sweet potatoes, lot of greens and some few spices. I added herbs too, because it can be useful any time.

I have two types of fruit trees in my small garden. They are papaw and banana. These days we are having fruits on my papaw tree. So I am very happy. My father told me that we are about to have a flower on the banana tree too.

The plants grew very well as I used only carbonic manure. For that I dug a pit and put all the dried leaves into it. This also helps the environment. It stops the environmental pollution. Burning the garbage pollute the environment.

Now I am going to say how I devote my time for gardening. Before that I must thank my little brother who helps me a lot. Returning from school, I spend some time for gardening. I water them. I do weeding. Recently I made a fence around the plants. It helps me to protect the plants from animals like dogs and hens. And it looks nice too.

The most important thing is that I am helping the family economy by supplying vegetables. Those vegetables are fresh and free from chemicals. My mother is very happy about it. And I sell the rest to my neighbors too. From that I earn some money. So now I do not want to trouble my father to buy story books for me and my brother.

As I was getting good results, I thought of telling about it to the others. First I told my best friend. Then to the teachers. Teachers praised me a lot. My best friend got interested and started planting in his garden too. Now my plan is to tell my other friends and neighbors too.

Like this if all can grow something useful for the home, it is very helpful for a country’s economy. As Asians we are used to eating a lot of greens and vegetables. They carry a lot of Vitamins.