Deprived kids tryst with NY artist

HYDERABAD: Kids of slum-dwellers, rag-pickers, abandoned children and many others who fall under the category of 'urban deprived children' and do not have the luxury of education --- such children from the city have been rescued. In an effort to make primary education accessible to these urban deprived children, the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA, AP) recently set up Residential Special Training Centres (RSTCs) in the city. Over 1,000 children, most of whom have never even been enrolled in a school before, now reside and study in these RSTCs, which are run by NGOs.Apart from providing them with education, the SSA has also decided to expose them to the beauty of arts and crafts in a first-of-its-kind workshop, that was kick-started in the city on Thursday. The three-day art and crafts workshop, which is being conducted at the State Gallery of fine arts, is playing host to 300 children from RSTCs in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. The workshop, which has several sessions, will help the children learn different forms of arts and crafts. Vatti Vasant Kumar, Minister for Tourism and Culture, and Dr Sailajanath, Minister for Primary Education, SSA, were present at the inaugural.Explains Chandana Khan, principal secretary, Primary Education and SSA, "This is the first time we are having such a workshop. 300 children have been called from the RSTCs in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy and 20 artists have been invited, who can teach these children about various arts and crafts. Post this workshop, we plan to have nine more workshops for the rest of the children residing in the RSTCs." Ask Khan the reasons behind holding such a workshop, she replies, "We just want to provide joyful learning with art, crafts, dance and music and empower these children."Director of the workshop is an artist and curator from New York, Jacqueline Lima, who shares, "I was in the city for a few art exhibitions and to catch up with some friends, when Chandana asked me to be the director for this workshop because she wanted me to add my experience and exposure in the field of liberal arts. We have 20 sessions each day for the 300 children for three days. The sessions are going to be on pencil drawing, collage making, Carnatic music, Classical dance, sculpting among many others. Each child can choose four different activities." Jacqueline will also be teaching the kids how to pencil sketch. Sharing her experience of day one with the children, she says, "The experience has been great. We believe that there is an artist in everyone and by this workshop we are trying to bring that artist out. We want the children to figure out what they are good at so that they can hone their skills."The children will also be provided with various art and craft equipments like books, pencils, colours, brushes and a lot more, so that they can work on their skills even after the workshop is concluded.

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