A tie up between PeaceWorks and Kolkata Police project Nabadisha.
Exposed to violence and abuse, susceptible to crime, addiction and trafficking, children in the streets and slums of Calcutta are struggling for basic human needs. The state provides primary education but it takes so much more to create responsible, evolved citizens. PeaceWorks’ storytelling project Share Stories Open Minds is a timely intervention that uses one of humanity’s oldest art forms to educate, inspire and motivate these children.
Since inception in 2010, Share Stories Open Minds has reached out to over 2000 children in Nabadisha schools run by the Kolkata police within police station premises and in Sarva Shiksha Abhyan schools run by the Central Government.
Typically, students in these schools come from the most marginalized sections of society.
PeaceWorks volunteers—homemaker, teacher, student, senior citizen, journalist, naval architect, illustrator—profiles of just some of the people who have come forward to commit their time and dedication to the project—are assigned centres where they conduct storytelling sessions once a week for a duration of one hour. Often stories lead to dramatization and to illustrations and amazing artworks, encouraging creativity in every possible way.
Launched in 2011 in two Nabadisha schools, the project has since spread to 11 Nabadisha and Sarva Shikha Abhyan schools.
We can only continue to take this project forward with your support.
If you have a passion for telling stories and have 2–4 hours to spare every week, call us today at 24556942/43 or write to peaceworks@seagullindia.com
Volunteer’s speak –
Using different forms of art to make a little difference that’s going to bring a smile and interacting with enthusiastic children who are brave enough to fight oddities with dignity. – Nabanita Biswas
Storytelling is one of the best medium to get the attention and interest of children… – Rita Raja
I have taught in schools many years ago, and have also worked as trained social worker and I wish to get back to teaching and this project seems to be interesting and different. – Chandanna Tandan
… now it’s my turn to give back to society whatever I can, as much as I can. – Deepak Mitra
I wanted to get back to interacting with children and thought this opportunity was perfectly right! I have done art activities with an experimental school called Shikshamitra in Calcutta, but that was nine years back and I didn’t want to get into formal teaching. I am looking forward to the opportunity to tell my favourite stories, spin some of my own, throw in activities as well. Fingers crossed! – Atreyee Dey