Date:15/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111560010300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

They proved they are indeed whizkids

Correspondent

Four-member South Asia Horlicks Wiz Team 2008 chosen

Three Indian students and one Sri Lankan made it to the team
Sixty-four students from four countries showcased their skills

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Proud moment: The elated students with former cricketer Anil Kumble.

BANGALORE: The “I make my world” spirit was evident at the first South Asia finals of “Horlicks Wizkids 2008” at the B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan here on Friday. The contest was held to select the four-member South Asia Horlicks Wiz Team 2008. Sixty-four students from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal showcased their skills to be part of the team. Finally, three Indian students and one Sri Lankan made it to the team.

Karthikeyan A., a tenth standard student of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore; Tanvi Jiten Gala, seventh standard student of Queen Mary High School, Mumbai; Bhoomika Meena, ninth standard student of Maharani Gayathri Devi Girls’ High School, Jaipur; and Virag Perera, 12th standard student of Royal College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, will now visit the U.K. and interact with various non-governmental organisations and also students of the London School of Economics.

Speaking to The Hindu, Karthikeyan said he was not confident of making it to the final stage.

“But, I think my project titled ‘Child rights - for the children, by the children, to the children’ made an impact. It is a project on child labour in Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Tanvi said that as part of her project work she taught computers to slum children in Mumbai.

“It was a pleasure to teach them and their response was heartening,” Tanvi said. Bhoomika took up a project on exploitation, abuse and neglect of children.

Virag said that acts of violence (terrorism or war) affected the children first. “We children have the responsibility of rooting them out from the world. It can be achieved only by spreading love and not by whipping up intense hate. In Sri Lanka, violence is affecting both Sinhalese and Tamil children,” he said.