Theatre as a direct medium of development (Child Labour can be eliminated through theatre)
Theatre As A Career - An Introduction
THE EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE FOUNDATION'S `SCHOOL JAO ABHIYAAN' CHILD LABOUR PROJECT
THEATRE DIRECT MEDIUM OF DEVELOPMENT UNDERSTANDING, STRATEGY AND APPROACH
INTRODUCTION:
"When children are deprived from their basic right Education - The result is child labour' Education - Relevant meaningful and a tool to survive in the competitive world".
Child Labour is a social evil and harsh reality of our society all over India. Children are treated as malleable objects - without caring the softness and sensitivity of the upgrowing causing a block in physical and mental growth i.e.
BLOCK THE EXPRESSION OF CHILDREN.
There are number of factors involved or responsible for child labour i.e. unemployment of adult, underpaid, illiterate adults, irregular earnings, displaced communities, marginalised unsupportive rural-urban environments, like in price of basic necessities etc, " OVER ALL ONE IMPORTANT FACTOR RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILD LABOUR IS THAT WE ADULT-CITIZEN OF INDIA ARE ACCEPTING THIS PRACTICE".
Doesn't be panic - this is the truth. Let's face it, own the responsibility and struggle to revive the lost childhood of child labour and safeguard childhood of India, collectively as our social, moral responsibility towards - Tomorrow's citizens! 265 child labourers left labour, joined formal school, 50, are in progress of joining formal school. How it happened allow up to explain.
Process :
(A) Understanding - the issue - child labour and children.
(B) Resolving myths about child labour.
(C) Dialogue with parents, employer and B.M.C. schools.
(D) Participation of sensitive citizens.
A) ETF Interacted with different research and training institutions, campaigns, individuals and grassroot NGO's working on child labour issue at national and international levels. ETF discovered :
· Child is not allowed to express!
· Myth governs the society about child labour.
· Attitudinal problems : Attitude towards children.
After these findings, ETF performed street play "Mera Bachpan" covering all the points, in Mumbai and project area Charkop, Kandivali. Mobilised the children, assured and allowed them to participate in the play - as demanded by children who witnessed performance, restored the faith of children in adult and system. Allowed them to express themselves : CHILDREN THEATRE GROUP EMERGED.
B) Myth: poverty the main reason to child labour E.T.F. don't believe that poverty is the reason - poverty itself is caused by number of factors - i.e. Education is the key factor to both poverty and child labour and focussed on Education. We find common understanding : children who want to go to school and theatre animators who want to help these children to go to school.
Question : what about parents, employers and schools ?
C) PET : Parents, employers and formal schoolteachers' forum.
Our children theatre group helped us to have a dialogue with PET by performing infront of them asking several questions about their children for example - why they send their children to work? what is education and its importance? Why you employ a child? Why are you pushing these children out of school? ETF animators facilitated the process and allowed PET to reflect on their childhood, Desires, expectations and aspirations about their children to be? invited parents to see the performance of the children, which provided them an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the potential of the children. One parent said yes I want to send my child to school, another said yes ………… in this way parents allowed the children to school.
Employer : We followed Ideological finding, " Every Human being wants a child to be Educated," and channalized the employer's sensitivity toward children over the benefits he draws from children. One garage owner allowed us to conduct theatre workshops and functional literacy class in his garage and stopped employing children below 14 years. We repeated the example with other employers and they are joining us gradually.
Question : Will BMC school system accepts? yes, with the help of strong and sensitive individuals, institution and their co-ordination with BMC school authorities and staff helped us in accepting the children are school.
Question : Will children remain in school? yes, ETF is following up all the promoted children - with sanskar warg, abhivyakti manch, and exposure visit and children theatre repertory which is performing on different issues.
Strange! Isn't it !
No, we struggled a lot, still struggling, but one thing we want to convey to you is "It is possible to stop child labour", and education as an alternative to child labour. You can do it, you can make a difference - just try. Join hands with us.
OUR PHILOSOPHY DERIVED FROM EXPERIENCE : "EXPRESSION IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. ALLOW CHILDREN TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES."
MISSION : To educate people (Child labour, Deprived children and marginalised sections of society) to eliminate child labour through THEATRE MEDIA.
STRATEGY
1) EDUCATION
2) MOBILISATION
3) EMPOWERMENT
1) EDUCATION :
PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES
Awareness/ Sensitization :
1) Street Plays, 2) Film Shows 3) Poster Exhibition 4) Street Theatre Campaigns by children 5) Street Theatre Workshop for Youth
NON - FORMAL EDUCATION :
6) Non - Formal/ Literacy Classes 7) Abhivyakti Visit 8) Exposure Visit 9) Motivational Camp
FORMAL EDUCATION:
10) Sanskar Warg 11) Follow up Camp 12) Exposure Visit 13) Children Theatre Workshop 14) Bal Natya Utsav
MOBILISATION :
15) Children Street Theatre Repertory 16) Children Rally 17) PET Workshop 18) Crisis Intervention 19) Networking.. CACL, FACSE, NLI, CRY etc., 20) National Events 21) Sports
EMPOWERMENT :
22) PET 23) Children's Self Help Group 24) Youth Group
SCHOOL
JAO
ABHIYAAN
A CHILD LABOUR PROJECT BY THE EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE FOUNDATION
8/17, Shree Ram Nivas,
Adarsh Lane, Khar (E),
Mumbai - 400 051.
Phone : 022 - 868 7552/
643 2672
E-mail : etf@bom3.vsnl.net.in
For sustain development we need your support in terms of activity expenses or corpus fund. Kindly get back to us on the above address.
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Theatre As A Career - An Introduction
Theatre is popularly believed to be merely a medium of entertainment. This understanding entails that a person who professes theatre does so as a part time or leisure activity. In fact even those who are involved in theatre fail to see it as an independent career option.
But theatre is much more than arc-lights, make-up or stage performances. It is a source for living life to its fullest. This is possible because it encompasses all the traditions and cultures of human kind. It is a strong medium of expression that constantly transcends its own parameters. While it establishes new ideals and altruistic goals for itself, it simultaneously breaks older boundaries. It thus, revitalises itself according to the developments in society.
While portraying varied attitudes and values, theatre gives a glimpse of society itself. In the process of discovering the outside world, it also provides a platform of self-exploration.
The present theatre establishments fail to exploit the full potential of theatre since they only try to preserve specific aspects or formats. The performers themselves only see theatre as a stepping stone for a career in television serials or movies. Yet, the presence of these establishments affirms that theatre is still an integral part of a common person's life. It cannot be done away with.
In reality, theatre offers many challenges. There is a need to explore this medium in all its dimensions. The Experimental Theatre Foundation (known for exploring different aspects of theatre) therefore, wishes to organise a ten day Residential workshop on `Theatre as a Career'. This workshop is aimed at encouraging the notion that theatre can be a full time career. This could be specially helpful for those who wish to make a permanent commitment to theatre.
The Experimental Theatre Foundation announces - ONE WEEK Residential THEATRE Work Shop.
THEATRE AS A CAREER - AN INTRODUCTION.
OBJECTIVES:
1. TO PERSUE THE THOUGHT--- A CAREER IN THEATRE.
2. TO ANALISE THE CURRENT SITUATION OF THEATRE.
3. TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OF THEATRE TO ENABLE THE PARTICIPANT TO UNDERSTAND THE SELF,GROUP & TODAY`S NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF THEATRE.
Topics: Understanding self , group understanding, understanding of Theatre, i.e. Stage, Play Reading, Analysis of play and understanding , make-up, lights, back-stage, music, acting, direction, different forms of theatre, play-writing, critique and today's needs and responses.
Those who want to explore or want to participate in the proposed workshop can contact on e-mail : etf@bom3.vsnl.net.in or Tel/ Fax No. 8687552. We have successfully conducted such workshop from 21st October to 27th October' 99.Other Places to go:
