My OperaSummer Camp at Salem
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 6:01:00 PM
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We had a long journey all the night to Harur to a friends house before going to Hogenakkal where the river Cauvery enters Tamilnadu from Karnataka. Umpteen number of waterfalls drooping down into the river the river being the border of the states. The scorching heat of the sun shone bright overhead but we could also enjoy the eco tourism with the bamboo boat over the river, women frying fresh fish and making their livelihood, floating shops selling cool drinks and snacks to attract the tourists. It was a great time.
The first day was with the children of the bonded labours of Aundipatti near Salem. Dakshin had already been there to work with the same children on eco art hence this time he decided to do it in an advanced stage. Different strokes with mud and charcoal, exploring the texture of the lines on the art. Though the children refused to get organized in the earlier session he could handle them afternoon.
The next day Dakshin and me went to the next camp at Deviyakurichi near Athur. This time the parents of the children were leprosy patients. They had ceased to live in the Government run homes and made their own settlements detached from the village. Some had own land with mud houses. They have a community hall done by an organization. Their children go to nearby schools. Around 40 children attended the camp. So we started with Eco art, and the children were excited as usual. They tried in newspaper first and then they took up charts. They were made into 4 groups and each group started identifying their natural resources. They collected different types of green leaves, dry leaves, dry sticks and mud. They had a small discussion on these trying to understand the resource of trees and fertility of their place.
The next exploration was making pieces of newspaper and making a facemask out of them on their faces. The children enjoyed this with jokes and laughing all the time. They were astonished by the three dimensional character of the mask – it was not flat !!
The children collected different shapes and textures of leaves around their houses and created a chart of shades and textures. It was important and interesting to study the leaves so closely. They took much interest in collecting more and more. They had a good knowledge of the names of trees and their uses in general. This was a good sign to be identified in those children. Their existing relation to their environment was good enough.
We had a long journey all the night to Harur to a friends house before going to Hogenakkal where the river Cauvery enters Tamilnadu from Karnataka. Umpteen number of waterfalls drooping down into the river the river being the border of the states. The scorching heat of the sun shone bright overhead but we could also enjoy the eco tourism with the bamboo boat over the river, women frying fresh fish and making their livelihood, floating shops selling cool drinks and snacks to attract the tourists. It was a great time.
The first day was with the children of the bonded labours of Aundipatti near Salem. Dakshin had already been there to work with the same children on eco art hence this time he decided to do it in an advanced stage. Different strokes with mud and charcoal, exploring the texture of the lines on the art. Though the children refused to get organized in the earlier session he could handle them afternoon.
The next day Dakshin and me went to the next camp at Deviyakurichi near Athur. This time the parents of the children were leprosy patients. They had ceased to live in the Government run homes and made their own settlements detached from the village. Some had own land with mud houses. They have a community hall done by an organization. Their children go to nearby schools. Around 40 children attended the camp. So we started with Eco art, and the children were excited as usual. They tried in newspaper first and then they took up charts. They were made into 4 groups and each group started identifying their natural resources. They collected different types of green leaves, dry leaves, dry sticks and mud. They had a small discussion on these trying to understand the resource of trees and fertility of their place.
The next exploration was making pieces of newspaper and making a facemask out of them on their faces. The children enjoyed this with jokes and laughing all the time. They were astonished by the three dimensional character of the mask – it was not flat !!
The children collected different shapes and textures of leaves around their houses and created a chart of shades and textures. It was important and interesting to study the leaves so closely. They took much interest in collecting more and more. They had a good knowledge of the names of trees and their uses in general. This was a good sign to be identified in those children. Their existing relation to their environment was good enough.
You must be 
VGP # Friday, June 2, 2006 4:39:21 AM
with wishes,
GaneshPrabhu
yanidakshsiraguviri # Friday, June 2, 2006 4:32:08 PM
Greetings from Pavai.
Happy to note that you are doing some wonderful work with kids.
I am sure `Siraguviri' will fly very high. By the way how do you
select the area ? and who funds the project? I am sure one day
you will also explore with puppets.
Best wishes for the siraguviri team.
Bhanu
yanidakshsiraguviri # Monday, June 5, 2006 8:57:59 AM
Warm greetings from WED Trust team,
We visited your website and it is great opportunity to us to go around and it is more informative. We wish you very best of luck for your effort and we are sure we will be back with you for all good works related to children.
dharmaneethi
yanidakshsiraguviri # Monday, June 5, 2006 9:46:37 AM
the link to your web site.
it has been a great experience for me spending some time with you and
starting to know your country and your work.
I do hope to see you again
lots of love
benedetta
yanidakshsiraguviri # Tuesday, June 6, 2006 1:10:38 AM
It was real good to read of ur activities. I wd love to join u both on one of these camps as an observer.
I also want to offer u my support in editing the matter u put on this site for its relevance/language/consistency etc. If u need any help do let me know.
Wih warm regards,
Shobha
yanidakshsiraguviri # Tuesday, June 6, 2006 4:48:18 AM
I would love to associate with this work. Tell me how can I and how can I support you?
Thanx for sharing this with me.
Fahmeeda Hanfee
Sr. Coordinator- Marine Program
World Wide Fund for Nature – India
yanidakshsiraguviri # Thursday, June 8, 2006 4:33:06 PM
Thanks for sharing your work and part of your life, apart from the
Green
Coast, with me. Great to see how deeply involved you are with
communities, with children, with art. That is where a better and more
enjoyable world start: with the people (and the people who can start
and
lead things).
I will make the 'hand-swan' with my niece, she will love it!
And thanks for the lovely afternoon in Chennai!
best regards
Marielies
surendher # Friday, June 9, 2006 5:37:27 AM
This is surendher, your student from GRI. Icame to know about work done by you for the welfare of the children. I appreciate you for your work sir. I also wish to work with you sir. If i can do something for you then it is great pleasure to me sir. Thank you!
with Regards
Sure
yanidakshsiraguviri # Friday, June 9, 2006 4:12:16 PM
Siraguviri is a good attempt to stimulate the young minds. Hearty congratulations for your remarkable efforts/. photos are appreciable.
MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS FLY HIGH AND GLITTER WITH BEUTIFUL COLOURS THROUGH OUT THE UNIVERSE
with prayers
maithilysekaran
yanidakshsiraguviri # Sunday, June 11, 2006 4:58:58 PM
I am very sorry for the lengthy delay in my response. I have been out
of the country a few times, and in the process your email got barried
amongst all the other emails.
It is very good to hear from you, and I trust you are well. Your
project
sounds interesting -- I hope you are enjoying it and finding it
worthwhile!
Warm regards,
Shauna
yanidakshsiraguviri # Sunday, June 11, 2006 5:00:59 PM
Greetings from LEAD.
Read through your
reports. How nice if one dedicate all the time to be with children, only
a few get this rare opportunity.
League for Education and Development
(LEAD) and Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL-TN) may organise a
collective of children for Indian Social Forum with the scheme Vision
2015. May we request you both to be our resource persons.
I had returned only today from Kashi. I am yet to read about Totto Chan.
With regards
Yours Sincerely
N.RADHA
yanidakshsiraguviri # Sunday, June 11, 2006 5:02:49 PM
yanidakshsiraguviri # Sunday, June 11, 2006 5:04:49 PM
Great to see your web page and works with the children that are really
appreciating. I am back to my job, hope gautham told that I visited Trichy and salem last month. It would have been great if I would have met both of you. Anyway, I met you both through your web. Rest are fine. Hope to see
lot more of great works.
Thank you
Sushanta
yanidakshsiraguviri # Friday, June 30, 2006 4:14:33 PM
raghu