Creativity On Display

Yesterday we had a really fun Creative Arts session at MJ Mysore Road. Kathi, Ed, Kalpana and I attended the session. We did the second module of clay modelling with them. We thought clay is a good medium for kids to explore and be ok with imperfect art that essentially is about self expression. The main point that we want to bring across is that in art there is no right or wrong.

This session we started off with an introduction round of Ed and Kalpana. It was amazing to see the kids bonding with Ed even though they did not speak the same language. Afterwards we did brain gym (cross crawling) , which is basically just jumping around and the birdy dance to loosen them up. Then we distributed the clay and asked them to make a ball, a square and a cone out of it and to decorate those shapes by sticking things on or carving designs. Already, the shapes turned out better than the last session. :-)

Then, we asked them to do a welcome sign for their houses. We didn't give them any other instruction, as we want them to experiment and to develop creative thinking. It was amazing that every single one looked different (heart, hand, lock, square, round plate etc). They did a great job. Then Ed had the idea to ask them whether before the session they would have thought to be able to do that - everybody said no... and then we asked them to scale (between 0 and 5) how they had felt about the task before and how feel about it now. All of them felt more confident about it now and some actually assessed their own skills (most said from 0 before to 5 now, but some also said 1-3 or similar). In the end, we played jack sits in the kitchen with tina and again the birdy dance because the kids like it so much.

This is what Ed had to say."This was the first time I saw this session in action. I was hugely impressed by Kathi who engaged really well with the children. All displayed real enthusiasm for the session and demonstrated good creative skills. They responded wellto the need for focused work and particularly enjoyed the singing. They asked for a repeat of the singing many times which led me to think that they do not have enough opportunity to let their hair down and have some fun whilst at the same time having the opportunity to express themselves. Well done to Kathi and Sonali!!"

"I felt a real burst of creativity in the room. The kids on their own took the activity to the next level. They even started moulding the clay without us giving them any ideas or suggestions about the same. The welcome signs were really creative. One of the children even made a lock and key shaped sign and someone made a hand shaped sign. The detailing was really well done even though we have not yet reached to that level. They themselves figured out the need to smoothen the clay and the technique for the same. They were extremely enthusiasctic throughout the session and were being good team players by helping out their friends."

"It was a big learning experience for me. I learned that children themselves are okay with learning by doing and making mistakes in the process. They do not have an obsessive need to be perfect and are not in the habit of branding art as good and bad or right and wrong. They can truly get into the spirit of art and produce honest work that is solely driven by the love for work and the need for self expression. This is something we as adults are not used to doing and we end up forcing our perceptions of right and wrong on them and telling our children that they are not good enough if they do not meet our expectations!"

Sonali Gupta - Program Coordinator
Kathi Kitzinger - International Volunteer
Ed Williams - International Volunteer

Dream A Dream with Us - All you have to do is vote

1. Your vote for Dream A Dream’s declaration on neo.org could help us win up to 7,000 Euros!

2. You can help turn Vishal Talreja into an MTV Youth Icon by casting your vote online!

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1. Log on to www.neo.org (*you will have to create a username and password) – then search for “Vishal Talreja” and click the option “support this declaration” – we are competing with 15 other NGOs and the top three garnering the most votes will share 20,000 Euros!!! The deadline is 1st December 2008 hence your vote today is essential to help us garner more support.

Our declaration of how we’re working to make this world a better place:
“We at Dream A Dream believe that sustainable change in our society will happen when we will dedicate ourselves fully to empowering vulnerable children so that they lead a quality life while at the same time working to sensitize the community through active volunteering. Hand in hand this will lead to the creation of a more tolerant society where all individuals are accepted, acknowledged and appreciated for who they are irrespective of their backgrounds, religion, sex, caste or class and have equitable opportunity to achieve their dreams.”

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2. Log on to www.mtvyouthicon.in.com to visit the MTV website featuring Vishal as one of the short-listed candidates for the Pepsi-MTV Youth Icon – watch his profile video and then follow the directions to cast your vote by SMS or online. 8 candidates will be finally chosen as the Pepsi-MTV Youth Icons 2008.

Project of Life

On 6/11/2008, in the afternoon around 2:30pm I went to Round table school for an Udaan session. I have never conducted an Udaan session myself but today I did after just ½ hour of reading the Udaan book, 18th Chapter (Project of life). It was a really good topic and it was great to learn more about Future Projects ideas.

I went there at 2:30pm and found only 25 children present. Most of them were attending the Adventure camp and some children were running home. When the RTS staff rounded them up, I started the class with my introduction and what I was currently doing. Some of them said "Oh!! Very interesting" and 2 or 3 children introduced themselves as well.

After this I stared session with learning objectives. We, then, went into the following activities

a) Identifying past and current interests and achievements
b) Identifying future goals
c) Creating plans for reaching goals and
d) Identifying possible ways to adjust plans due to unanticipated events (this was optional)

This was a very interesting topic to discuss with the children. We discussed the topic and I started doing the activities myself (as listed above). It was such an amazing experience I cannot find the words to express it.

During the session I got one call that I had to attend. I asked the class for permission and then attended to the call.

When I came back, I asked them what they liked in the session and what they didn't like. One boy stood up and told me that he didn't like that I attended a call during the session. I asked why he felt that way and he said that it was an interesting class and suddenly that mobile sound made me feel disturbed. I apologized to that boy. (Team don’t receive call in front of the Children during session just for information)

The next feedback I got was about the activity of identifying a future goal. One of the children mentioned that in the case of his family, they may not send him to study in the 10th STD and now his project of life was to make sure he finished the 10th STD. Now that I know what my goal is, this summer I will definitely do well and show my parents that I have the confidence and they will agree to send me to the 10th STD. I appreciated his interesting feedback.

Suddenly a girl stood up and she showed her anger face to me and to her friends. I was shocked because I didn't know what happened and she stared to cry. It was already 4.30 and so I finished the session and I told her that I would talk to her after the session was over..

After we said our goodbyes, I spoke to that girl for 30 minutes.. I asked her why she got angry and why she cried. I wanted to know if it was something I said or did that hurt her. I apologized to her. She said "Pavithra aunty, just like that boy, her parents were also not going to send her to the 10th STD". She had the same problems in her house which is why she got emotional. I explained about some inspiring news to her. I told her that now that she learned that project of life she can apply that into her life. She said that within one week she was going to do that so that when I went back to the school next, she would have something to show me. I was thrilled to hear her words. It's amazing.

This is what happened in my first ever Udaan class. All I can say is "Super!"

First we should appreciate to Dream a Dream. How we are changing this community through our Programme. Once again Team says thanks to DAD and Team.

Pavithra K L, Program Support Staff
Dream A Dream

Udaan Life Skills is a life skills curriculum-based program, in partnership with Delhi based NGO, Youth Reach, currently serving older children and youth focussed on strengthening core personal competencies, learning about critical health issues, developing skills for successful employment and the power to address community problems. Over 250 children are part of this program on a weekly basis.