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The northeastern part of Sri Lanka has been suffering from ethnic war for more than twenty-five years. This area was once regarded for its high quality of education and literacy rate. The area has been ruined and has lost schools and electricity. People’s lives are marginal in every aspect. This story is about a boy from a poor family in the area who never gives up and struggles to study further.
Vino is 10 years old and in the fifth grade. The fifth grade scholarship exam is approaching in Sri Lanka. If he fails to pass this exam he will not be able to continue his studies. When he is not helping his family, he earnestly studies for the exam. He has to hide in a bunker most of the time, however, and cannot study as there is no electricity there. He manages to make use of a faint light coming through a little hole above him, and he follows the light as the sun moves. But studying only during the day is not enough, so he has to learn how to study at the night. One day he notices his father riding a bicycle and comes up with the idea to use the bicycle generator to light his bunker. And he finally sits for the fifth grade scholarship exam. |
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