SPEND 2015 - An innovative and enlightening event
Handicrafts exhibition, Health seminars and students’ art exhibition
On 30th January, the Auditorium of Carmel School Khaitan, became the venue of a unique and one of a kind event. The much awaited SPEND 2015 Handicrafts Exhibition and Health Care Seminars introduced by Malankara Cultural Association (MCA) in collaboration with Indian Orthodox Mercy Fellowship (IOMF) Kuwait had a successful launch at 2:00 pm as planned. A large audience including sponsors of the event along with their families, students from various schools in Kuwait, parents and members from general public attended the program. A. K. Srivastava (Secretary for Press, Information & Culture), Embassy of India, Kuwait inaugurated the exhibition and seminars. Rev Fr Raju P. Thomas (President of IOMF) and Samuel Chacko (President of MCA) gave felicitation messages. Rev Fr Reji C Varghese and Rev Fr Shaji P. Joshua along with other dignitaries witnessed the inaugural meeting, where the General Conveners of SPEND 2015 M. P. Syriakutty and Jacob Zachariah Karuvelil presented the concept of SPEND 2015 and welcomed the audience.
It was explained that, SPEND is a program with no end, conceived and being implemented by members of MCA, a group of people, who believe in the concept “Educate to Empower and Spend to Enlighten”. The acronym stands to Strengthen families, Promote learning, Empower women, Nurture compassion and Develop talents.
SPEND is a novel approach to create awareness in the community about the value of education and better personal health for everyone. The organizers concentrate specifically in four major areas of health care by giving prominence to fighting Cancer, Diabetes, Coronary and Kidney diseases with awareness and to support education and health care among the most needy and underprivileged in the community.
It was also informed that they are keen to see a change in our life styles by giving due respect to the environment we live in, and are all out to promote cleanliness of surroundings, calling for change in our attitudes. They also support and hold up “Keep Kuwait Clean” and “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” (Clean India Mission) initiatives. Members of MCA promote nature friendly biodegradable products like paper carry bags and have arranged workshops on producing paper carry bags from used newspaper, which is being wasted.
It was informed that members of MCA believe in working hard, promote learning and produce works of art by bare hands using once own inborn talents, spread knowledge and understanding with a view to empower and emancipate the weak, including women of all stature. Members used to meet regularly in small groups to learn, share and promote their talents creating beautiful works of art which are remarkable testimonials of their sheer passion for a compassionate way of living. The group learning workshops were coordinated and lead by General Conveners Mrs Shybi Jacob Karuvelil and Mrs Ruby Syriakutty.
It was assured that, SPEND is only beginning of a campaign with no end in the foreseeable future. Members of MCA are convinced of their commitment to society and the funds generated from SPEND 2015 Program will be used exclusively to help the poor, deserving and needy in education and health care and to create awareness in areas including protection of the environment we live in.
The Students Art Exhibition was held to identify and promote talented students aged 10 to 18. Cash prizes and certificates were awarded to Miss Naleena Murugesh from Carmel School (1st prize), Miss Carol Mary Thomas from United Indian School (2nd prize) and Miss Aseelah Arifa Khadija from Indian Community School Junior (3rd prize) for excellence in art. All participants were presented with certificates for participation.
The Health Care seminars were lead by Dr Murali Gopal, Medical Oncologist - Kuwait Cancer Control Centre, Dr Noble Zachariah, Specialist Internist and Diabetologist - Dar Al Shifa Clinic, Dr Babu Uthaman, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine - Kuwait University & Consultant Cardiologist in Kuwait Heart Centre and Dr Prasad Nair, Senior Consultant Nephrologist and Transplant Physician - Organ Transplant Centre, Ibn Sina Hospital, The seminars were made interactive to the audience by the Master of Ceremony, Dr Jacob Mathew.
Cultural programs lead by music, band and dance groups including Swarangali, music band of Indian Community School, music band of Renjan Kurien & Group, Shalom School of Dance, Crossroads - Diversity Unleashed along with Egyptian Tanoora Dance added to the sound and variety of the program.
Five colorful exhibition stalls representing Cancer Care (Red Group), Coronary Care (Orange Group), Kidney Support (Yellow Group), Diabetes control (Green Group) and Education (Blue Group), displayed hundreds of handmade artifacts such as different kinds of paintings, knitted work, flower settings, painted pots, wood art, engraved art, embossed paintings, metal embossed art, glass painting, silk painting, etc. exclusively handmade by members of MCA.
The most exciting and innovative feature of the exhibition was that all the artifacts which were created through numerous hours of careful work by the members were given away to the sponsors of SPEND 2015 as a token of their commitment to the causes promoted by the organizers. James Peter (Secretary of MCA) thanked the sponsors and the visitors of the exhibition for their encouragement and support in making SPEND a continuing program for enlightenment. Shibu P. Alex was the Master of Ceremony for the event.