Bal Manch kids learn creative arts from French trainer
Aksha and Iqral spend half of their day selling vegetables - eagerly awaiting the afternoon. That is when they get to be at their creative best, make craft items like paper jewellery and decorative hangings, and sing and dance like other children. All thanks to Bal Manch, a study centre for underprivileged kids.
Ensuring fun and learning at the centre is French trainer Megane Antonio, who is in Lucknow till April to train disadvantaged children in creative activities and help develop their skills.
“Bal Manch is a study centre for child labourers and other deprived kids. Children aged 5 to 12 years study here. We facilitate learning for them and prepare them for admissions to mainstream schools. The centre currently has 75 children - all of Madiaon locality,” informed Pooja Vishwakarma, coordinator of the centre. She added, “A number of students from the centre have been admitted to good schools, through the provision of the Right to Education Act.”
Talking about the French trainer, Vishwakarma shared, “Megane is a volunteer from France who came to India for a period of six months to facilitate learning for these children. She teaches them various creative exercises.”
Sana, a 10-year-old who does zardozi embroidery at home and also attends classes at the centre every day said, “I have learnt to make paper jewellery and many other craft items here. I love colourful papers!”
Speaking about her experiences at the centre, Megane said that the purpose of involv- ing children in craft and other creative activities was to generate their interest in learning and in school. “Children don’t skip visiting the centre as they love these activities and wait for them daily. They get charged-up and happy and then attend the classes attentively, learning things better,” she said. Megane also teaches English to the children and encourages them for out-of-the-box thinking.
We facilitate learning for them and prepare them for admissions to mainstream schools. The centre currently has 75 children - all of Madiaon locality. POOJA VISHWAKARMA, coordinator, Bal Manch