Child prodigy authors 'Junk Food' book in fight against obesity |29 November 2023
A souvenir photograph to mark the occasion
As part of the National Stop Obesity Campaign, the National Council for Children (NCC) decided to hold a special presentation and handing over of 11-year-old Thanuwana Serasinghe’s storybook titled ‘Junk Food’.
This was during a shot ceremony at NCC’s headquarters, Beal Eau yesterday afternoon.
Special guest First Lady Linda Ramkalawan handed over the story book to Anse Aux Pins and Baie Lazare primary schools.
Author of the book, Thanuwana, presented copies of the book to Bel Eau, Bel Ombre, Beau Vallon and Cascade primary schools.
Thusitha Serasinghe, Thanuwana’s father, presented copies of the book to International School, La Rosière and Mont Fleuri primary schools.
NCC’s chief executive, Yasmin Umarji, presented copies to Ecole Française and La Retraite.
ISS principal, Elodie Vallantine, presented copies to Plaisance, Pointe Larue primary school and the School for the Exceptional Child.
NCC’s training manager, Fatma Bibi, accepted the story book on behalf of the schools which could not be present; namely Takamaka primary, Trotters and the Inner Islands schools of Baie St Anne, Grande Anse Praslin, La Digue primary and Vijay International School.
Thanuwana set a new Guiness World Record for being the youngest author to publish a book, by the age of 4. It took him three days to write the book.
The book is about the story of a boy who loved to eat cakes, sweets, pizzas, chips, burger and other food considered to be unhealthy. This made him feel lethargic and he could not keep up with his friends who teased and laughed at him. It is written in simple language and can be used by teachers and younger children as an educational resource in the fight against obesity.
When addressing the guests, Thanuwana said he was inspired to write the book “because I saw many children eating lots of sugary and junk food which is not good for our health”.
The ceremony ended with a vote of thanks from Manuella Boniface on behalf of the students thanking everyone for the books.
Young Thanuwana, 11, is in Class Year 8 at the International School Seychelles. He was born in Sri Lanka on January 15, 2012 and moved to Seychelles with his mother when he was four months old to join his father who works in the hotel industry. He has written other books about issues such as pollution and environment.
Sunny Esparon
Photos by Joena Meme
