DAY 1: IMPRESSIONS
A parent and child interaction day to share and sensitize towards the aim of the workshop. What is Gandhi ji’s relevance in context of life today? Why and how can we look at his life and beliefs? The fun activity was a big picture. Each child was given a piece of paper with some lines and shapes to colour. When all the pieces came together there emerged a cohesive graphic. Underlying message was to do our bit, however small, without concern of the contribution. A big picture of significance always appears from the strength of any such collective effort.
DAY 2: SOUL OF INDIA
Excursion to Crafts Museum Purana Qila. They were exposed to the treasure of craftsmen of our country, their amazing sense of colour aesthetic and rich styles of artwork. Sitting with them and drawing from what they saw of various arts and crafts. The young minds had a hands on experience of observing and interacting with these amazing people of India. The deep happiness experienced by the craftspeople at the interest the children showed in their skills was the surprise bonus of the day for them.
DAY 3: EXPLORE INDIA
A day to explore the take away from a look into the rich cultural aspects of India at Crafts museum. The activity of the day was to instill pride in one’s own country, a strong message Gandhi ji lived. The children made a craft map of India using the specialized crafts of different parts of the country as an abstract graphic on a real map. Introduction of the concept of self help through a fill out chart and introduction and planning of the work to be done for underprivileged children rounded the day off.
DAY 4: US FOR THEM
Visit to Earth Saviour Foundation School for Slum children marked the day to think of others, show empathy, understanding and doing your bit for others selflessly, an essential ingredient of Gandhi ji’s life. A set of story books collected and bought for the school children were tagged and organised in a library cupboard by the children. Posters with the messages of Gandhi ji were painted with them and put up in their school space tent as a memory of his ideals. Children had baked muffins for them at their homes to share with the children at the school. Self care and hygiene kits for the children were shared and discussed with them by the youngest ones to underline the importance of cleanliness, a concept dear to Gandhi ji. Enriching and engaging, with a direct contact experience aimed at leaving a permanent imprint.
DAY 5: GANDHI SMRITI
We had been talking about Gandhi ji for so many days and the final experience was to see what a person with his ideals to could really achieve. The influence and impact he had on the mind set of the world in spite of his simple thinking and message. A visit to the Gandhi Smriti was the way to connect with all these young minds specially owing to the amazing abstract display of his ideals and thoughts there. The building and its historical significance in the story of Gandhi ji added another layer of interest for them.