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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
October 7, 2007
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| June 25, 2007 |
Works of Art, Labours of Children: The Bornfree Art School joins Peace Boat |
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| John Devaraj reaches out to his audience using powerful, theatrical art |
Just keeping up with John Devaraj and Mioi Nakayama - the founders of the Bornfree Art School in Bangalore, India – is quite a feat. In a six day whirlwind of learning and creativity onboard the Peace Boat, they led an enthralled following of participants from one activity to the next with a level of energy you would expect from children. And this is their secret: they thrive on the enthusiasm of their young pupils. “As an artist it was my dream to rediscover my childhood through art,” said Mr. Devaraj excitedly. “Yet searching for this happy childhood, I found 134 million children who are losing theirs.” He is referring to the harsh reality that in India, every tenth person is a working child - growing up without education, freedom or dreams. |
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| A child breaks up iron ore, used in the steel exported to Japan. Photo: Jayaram P.K. |
The problem is so widespread in India that it is largely accepted as the ‘normal’ way of things. In a country where over a quarter of the population is living in poverty, millions of children have been forced to work to help support their families or pay off the debts of their parents. However, this is an issue we all need to face up to. Putting it into context for the participants, Mr. Devaraj and Ms. Nakayama explained that the steel Japan uses in its mobile phones, computers and construction comes from child labour in India. So do the roses that are exported to Europe on a daily basis. And the chillies and turmeric that flavour curries around the world. |
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| The pupils use their artistic skills to photograph working children on their bike ride around Karnataka. Photo: Mioi Nakayama |
For the past two years, the Bornfree Art School has been working to change this, acting as a haven for youngsters who have escaped work or found themselves living on the street. The school encourages pupils to use their creative talents as a way to regain their self-confidence and a desire to learn. Yet it has become more than just a school. It has now grown into its own social movement, with the children leading the way. “Adults are too stuck in their ways,” said Mr. Devaraj, “children themselves must change attitudes and help free each other from labour.” This was the thinking behind last year’s 4,040 kilometer bike ride around Karantaka state that captured over 25,000 evocative images of working children. Behind each lens was a Bornfree Art School pupil. At the end of the trip their artworks were presented to the Indian Government to expose the scale of the problem. |
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| The patchwork drawing completed by 24 Peace Boat participants |
Onboard Peace Boat, Mr. Devaraj and Ms. Nakayama were just as keen to use the power of art. Using theatre, music and dance the pair raised awareness of child labour among the participants. In one workshop, participants were shown how people can work together through art – just as their pupils did on the bike ride – with each completing their own section of a huge colour drawing. The highlight however was undoubtedly the talent of the school’s pupils themselves, as they joined the ship for an evening of music and dance in the port of Kochi. |
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| Bornfree pupil, Saravana, helped to inspire those onboard with an incredible dance performance |
The pupils themselves are also convinced by the power of art to change their lives and children like them. “I want to grow up and open a Bornfree Art School for all children. This is my dream,” stated 12 year old Santhosh. Until then, Mr. Devaraj and Ms. Nakayama have their own ambitions to expand across India, and even internationally to Africa and Latin America – wherever child labour continues. For now though they return to Bangalore, having inspired those aboard Peace Boat to spread their message across the world.
Discover the power of Born Free Art for yourself at: www.bornfreeart.org |
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