It is uncommon that a child comes to understand the harsh realities of life while playing and enjoying. Yet, that is exactly what Child Rights and You (CRY) hopes to achieve through a series of interactive sessions with children at Crossword in Sadashivnagar and Frazer Town.
What's your dream?
Spreading awareness about child's right to education via games and activities, CRY is aiming to make privileged children think about their underprivileged counterparts. The “Express Your Dream for Children” sessions gave children between the ages of five and 16 a “fun” space and allowed them to express themselves creatively through various forms of art. This is a month-long partnership between the two Crossword stores in Bangalore.
The activities scheduled were designed to discuss obstacles that keep children from receiving quality education using cartoons as a medium Noted cartoonist K. N. Balraj also attended the workshop and gave some points to ponder on. “Working with children is interesting because of their inherent innocence. As a political cartoonist I have to continuously point out faults in the establishment. These fresh minded children are a welcome relief,” he said.
Thought provoking
Sanchari Ghose, the mother of an enthusiastic five year old, Shivanjali Ghose, brought her daughter for the session as she wanted her to participate in group activities and because Shivanjali enjoyed the first session that she had attended. “She asked me, whether some schools really didn't have toilets after the last time she attended the programme. Clearly she has begun realising that not everyone is as lucky as she is,” Mrs. Ghose said.
“A number of children who have come once, come back for more,” points out Sonia Dominica, who conducts these sessions, adding that they are obviously interested and entertained by the activities at hand.
The output that we get from them shows that the participants are keen that their counterparts elsewhere ought to have the same comforts that they enjoy. “This is a good step in ensuring that they grow up to be conscious citizens,” say Davis Cyril Raj and Dennis Sunil Kumar, proprietors of the Sadashivnagar and Frazer Town Crossword stores.
The children simply love both the location and the activities that these sessions entail. “The combination of interesting things, books, art and fun is perfect,” says Bhavani V Gowda, a 12-year-old attending her second session.
