Workshop on Creative Arts for Youth @ Nehru Memorial, Delhi – September 2010

On 4^th September 2010, Filmbooth undertook a cause to sensitize and familiarize children and the youth to the eight millennium Development Goals and the team decided to achieve this aim through an interactive, entertaining, artistic and fun way.

We organized a workshop at the Nehru Memorial Centre, New Delhi for children from two NGOs (Chetna and Khushi) and the dramatics Society of Dayal Singh College, Delhi University. The day’s activities were divided under six categories: Painting, Photography, Choreography, Creative Writing, Music composition/Singing and Film Making. Through each of these activities the aim was to showcase all or some of the MDGs.

Each child opted to take part in one of the six enlisted activities. The children were introduced to the basics of each of the activities so for example the painting cohort was taught the basics of sketching such as the use of different pencils; the photography team was introduced to lens fixing, light and background components of photography; the singing team practiced Sa Re Ga Ma on the guitar and got into the groove of singing. By the second half, the students felt comfortable and familiar with their respective activities and took a great plunge in communicating the MDGs through their respective activities. The atmosphere was lively, fun and entertaining with students laughing and enjoying themselves.

The day ended with all the students and team members gathering in the auditorium to showcase their work to everyone. The highlights of the evening were:

• The choreography team’s performance on two Bollywood songs
• The art work displayed by the painting team – one part depicting a situation where the goals are not achieved and the other half where the goals were achieved, brilliantly bringing out the contrast thereby underscoring the importance of achievement of these goals to inclusive development.
• Poems and stories by the creative writing team, dealing with issues of hunger, poverty, education and hope.
• Finally, the stage was taken by the music composition team that performed on the song ‘Umeed ke Sipahiyon’  (Soldiers of Hope) the lyrics of which was also written by the team. The song was a major hit with all the students who continued to sing it even after the performers stopped.

The films shot during the workshop were showcased at EIGHT – The International Short Films Festival on the 8 MDG’s on 17-18^th September 2010.

Over all, everyone enjoyed themselves at the workshop and learnt many new activities and above all learnt not to give up hope and continue to work towards the goals!