Their smiles said everything. The excitement was palpable. It was celebration time at Raksha, Society for the Care of Children with Special Needs, Mattancherry. The institution was celebrating its 30 years of service with five days of events and fun. The event ends on March 20.
The theme that the students, parents and teachers have chosen is Cochin@1, a ‘live’ visual presentation of Fort Kochi, slices from its history, culture, art and music.
The children, all in their bright costumes and make-up, put up a Chavittunatakam, Thiruvathirakali, Duffmuttu performances, and an Anglo-Indian wedding ceremony, cheered on by their friends and watched by a stunned audience. They repeat this, everyday, in turns, from 10 in the morning to 12.30 p.m.
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Every room in Raksha school has been converted into an exhibition space. With old Malayalam film songs on Kochi playing in the background there is a Cherlai street scene, a Raksha carnival, which is modelled on the famous Fort Kochi carnival, visual presentations of the Queen of Arabian Sea, pictures from a happy outing that some of the children had at Fort Kochi etc.
The vocational section presents some amazing things made by the children. In the carpentry room the teacher tells you how the lemon squeezers made by the children is now being regularly exported to Italy and Spain. Key stands, paper bags of various sizes, pen and visiting card holders are just some of the objects they make. There’s more surprise in store at the tailoring unit. Here wheelchair-bound John has made some beautiful bed sheets out of discarded cloth pieces, aprons, table napkins, colourful bags, all much sought after by the visitors.
One exhibit that really opens your eyes to the callous approach of our city planners to these special children is a model of an inclusive park. It clearly indicates how easily the town planners could make the existing parks in the city accessible to these special children.
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Before you walk out don’t miss the yummy snacks from the in-house catering unit. And turn back, look at the faces of the kids who wave to you, see that smile that is perhaps a symbol of acceptance.