Bangalore City is beautiful....but has major water issues

We went for a short Bangalore city tour – actually, if one goes to see Bangalore its easy . Especially from a children’s point of view. As an IT hub the kids were happy to see Infosys and we cant obviously show them the pub culture of the city as they are underage J

In our city tour, the first stop was NGMA on Cunnigham Road. A beautiful structure converted into a gallery with works of many Indian artists. We went through each gallery trying to help the children understand the method of seeing a picture and the importance of museums in our lives.

A group photo outside the museum building, as we were not allowed to take any photos inside the gallery

All the happy faces always ready for a camera

It was amazing the stories children can tell seeing just one picture.

We then just drove through the city. Since there is construction of the metro happening everywhere and anyway Bangalore is full of one ways, drove through structures like Vidhan Soudha, High Court and Cubbon Park to land up at Jaaga Studio.

Jaaga Studio has been set up by a fellow NIDian – Archana Prasad. An artist and animation film designer believes that good design and art comes out by collaboration and is very keen to support art based work especially amongst underprivileged and also craft communities. Jaaga is officially our resource partner for The 1000 Crane Project’s Bangalore chapter.

At Jaaga Cafe - enjoying the ambience and structure around them

The children also had an opportunity to meet my (Juhi Pandey) family who live in Bangalore too. They were all very excited to meet them as they have never met their teacher's family or felt so invited anywhere before.

So, the second half of the day was spent by the children at Jaaga.

Their first session was with Anders. A toy designer and a story-teller who has developed this very interactive story for children which basically instills environmental consciousness.

Anders showing his work to the children, with Archana acting as interpreter.

Kumar was completely hooked to the touch device and the colours on the screen

The entire Jaaga group helping with the stroy - Shaona and Shaun were drawing the stroy out, Madhavi was the Kannada interpreter, Archana was speaking in Hindi and Anders in English

The story of the Jorgites

The children were fascinated more by the tool used to tell the story which was an IPAD, and were really excited that the story develops as you touch the screen.

We then went for a short tour of the Jaaga studio where Archana pointed out how the entire 2 floor structure if made out of all recycled material and is also a structure that can be dismantled and assembled wherever they like.

Archana showing the children the walls of the studio made from recylced material like coir to grown plants

The upper level of the studio where the lighting is all recycled metal

Moving one level up but the floor is recycled materials too!

Introducing them to Speaker Man !

We then began the Screen-Printing workshop with Shaona Sen. A designer and a huge fan of children. She works with another non profit in Bangalore called Magic Bus as well.

Shaona and Archana took them through the entire process till the final developed screen but the lack of time did not allow us to print, but The kids all had to draw a imagery representing water, which we put into one screen to create a print.   

What is a screen? How is it used? Archana & Shaona 

The kids drawing their story of Water

Ramzan is very proud of his Merman :) 

Each child made is 4 X 4 artwork 

This is how the print was put together with each artwork

Washing of the screen after exposing it

Trying their hand out at printing

Shaona shall bring the printed T-shirts on 24th April 2013-Wednesday when she comes in for another workshop with us.

From today the kids would also be given A Task for the Day.

For day 5 it was to show responsibility towards your partner. We had put them in pairs and the only task was to stay with the partner and look out for their partner. It was pretty successful as we used the bribing tool of rewarding. But, the children also learnt a little more about being responsible.

It was a long day, we collected rcycled material from Jaaga to work with. Thank you SIEMENS for sponsoring the bus for the day. Thank you Bassavaraja, our driver for the day !! 

In all it was a day of fun, because the kids had a joy ride around town, they loved the Jaaga space and a change in environment always helps. 

INFY-ormation Day !!!

Today was a day in the life of ALICE IN WONDERLAND...Since, we are in Bangalore, it only made sense that the children get exposure to the IT industry that makes what Bangalore is today...It is not all good because most of us old Bangaloreans would prefer it to be still known as “the garden city” but progress and change and growth is required and so now Bangalore is the IT Capital of India.

This was probably the only Infosys sign we could take a photo of as there is not too much branding around, and we were not allowed to click photos inside any building that we visited.

The famous INFOSYS campus or INFY CITY is right opposite the gates of IIITB, so it only made sense for us to take the children for a tour to this city within a city.  The children and we volunteers alike were just stunned and in awe of its opulence and grandeur. The facilities and the infrastructure makes you think you are in the most developed country of this world !

The Security Gate - you have to have a very very good reason to want to enter this property else you are not allowed in, so the children were very important personalities coming today.

Meghraj explaining the plan for the tour to us

Walking through a landscaped property with water fountains, ponds and fish in the pond as well. 

The excited group on their cart ready to roll through the campus 

Meghraj with the kids walking to one of the many entertainment zones for the employees of Infosys

The Pyramid - it is the symbol of pride and simplicity of the campus

The Washing Machine - at the backdrop is a building when built was to represent a plane but looks more like a washing machine.

driving through the massive, impressive and highly modern buildings of the Infosys campus

The children had a blast. They were amazed by the architecture and most excited about the golf cart ride they had during the tour.

They also attended an “interesting” presentation on DREAMS by an employee of Infosys. Our ain escorts for the morning were Meghraj and Sairam, who were very hospitable and very friendly with the kids. We had time constraints else we were sure to have been allowed to spend more time on the campus.

But, just visiting this space which is the headquarters of one of the largest IT companies in the world was a DREAM come true anyway.

We continued with the YES program in the morning – today’s lesson was mainly to teach the children to have their own personality and be responsible for their own actions. This was taught using a very fun dancing exercise which the children thoroughly loved because it was all on their favourite Bollywood and Tollywood songs.

Sanchita dancing along with the kids who really went all out to shake a leg not knowing there was a lesson to be learnt.

Kiran moving along with the boys to encourage them to move and shake.

Shabari and Maitri came in for their last session, which was actually planned for 4 hours, but they cut it short as we got delayed returning from Infosys and they had time constraints. But, once again it was an energetic way to spend the afternoon because this is the time when lethargy sets in the most.

moving with a purpose

its all about expressing the emotion 

with easy exercises Shabari & Maitri were able to instill a consciousness towards Water & its importance

The story of the 1000 Boats began today !

Sophie's recycled boat - Tara Trust sailing all the way 

After an action packed 4 days with the children going through experiences which are new to them but also getting to understand that they are not only here at IIITB to have fun and games, but to learn something and stand for a purpose, which is to Conserve, Protect and Preserve Water.

Darshan working with all his tools to built his SUPER boat !

Kumar was very proud of his pirate boat !

The National Boat of Wheels by Ramzan

The Fairy Boat by Deepa

Jyoti happy with her green boat !

Mahesh needs shelter in water, so a House Boat

For Aruna, her aim was to build a GOOD Boat.

The first of 17 boats were made today, even Sophie, Lina and Abhishegh made their own boats.

So, 17 down....983 more to go..........

An Act of kindness every day.... a Rhythm in every action

The highlight of the day was WALL-E ! We filmed the movie in one of the most modern classrooms even for some of us mentors to the program. We have had a very open response to the camp by all the students of IIITB.

Students of IIITB and the kids playing a getting to know game

At the IITB campus, there are 2 classroom which have 5 screens to enable people in every corner of the large space to be able to see the screen, so we watched the film WALL-E in the 5 screen make shift theater.

The Student Activity Council, The Movie Club, enthusiastic student volunteers, an employee, all together to make the screening happen, which the children enjoyed thoroughly. It was also a great way for them to be reminded of Lego Robot of IIITB which they had seen the previous day.

The students of the institute also spent time playing some games with the children. We had a birthday celebration and an impromptu short dance performance in the mess after dinner.

Kiran started the day with some exercises to wake the kids up.

Using the simple game of Chinese Whispers, the children learn the importance of hearing correctly.

Its all about listening - Aruna to Manjunath

Manu observing the reactions of the children

Kiran and Manu with the group trying to find out what went wrong?

The day for the children began with the YES program. The exercises got a little more challenging and deeper but also more physical and energy driven.  This session started moving into the area of self-realisation through a special meditation process.  It was pretty intense because when we met the kids at lunch time they were pretty tired and quite as well.

The second half of the day was another 2 hour session with Shabari Rao and Maitri. Today, all the actions the children had come up with in the first day’s exercises had been worked on by Shabari who created a simple dance routine which she taught the children.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Shabari and Maitri also worked on emotional feelings and their expression. The children were always happy to jump and act funny in front of the remaining group.

Shabari & Maitri 

The enactment of feelings and emotions by the group. Lina out volunteer also enjoying the exercise immensely

The early evening session was taken by Deepti Chatti, a researcher with TERI (The Energy and Research Institute) she has been extensively working and researching on issues related to water and its policy, and was happy to come in to interact with the children at short notice.

Deepti talking to the children about the exercises

Kumar drawing the earth and water ratio 

How is water contaminated? Manjunath trying to learn from Deepti

Through a very simple exercise she actually explained to the children at we actually have only 1% of all the water in the world which is usable water by all mankind so it is important to save water. The children also identified by themselves through a slide the various ways in which water is contaminated today.

At the end of the day, we had the children following their homework giving by the YES program – do make 2 new friends and 2 acts of kindness which the children took seriously. They were more open to each other and not shy of the students of the institute either – they were freely demonstrating the movements they had learnt at the workshop, and that too with a SMILE!

Lets do something fun !!!