Balakalakaar – It’s an AIESEC Thing!
Since many years a lot of organizations in Hyderabad have come up to help the underprivileged children in as many ways as possible. Conducting programs and activities which give these children exposure, however little be it and which make them happy is one of the main aims of these organizations. Balakalakaar is one such event. An initiative that was first worked upon by AIESEC Hyderabad is now the world’s largest painting workshop held for underprivileged children.
“AIESEC is an organization that has been present since 1948. At AIESEC we work around socio-economic issues. Balakalakaar is an event which we do around the issue of child rights. And people who are studying and doing their under-graduation join and work for AIESEC” says Akhil Reddy, the president of AIESEC Hyderabad. Balakalakaar is one project that AIESEC Hyderabad has been doing since the year 2005. Here, children from different N.G.Os in and around Hyderabad are brought to the workshop. Balakalakaar 2009, held on 19th December, conducted the workshop for over 2000 children.
The Artist within. Credit: Immortal Impressionist
The event began at 10:30 am with cultural programs by the children like dance performances where the children danced on a wide variety of songs – from classical south Indian to hit bollywood numbers. Besides the cultural performances there were entertainment programs like a magic/stunt show and a mimicry show too.
The president of the organizing committee for balakalakaar, Harshita Tallam says, “This year’s event is the most different compared to the last four years. All four years it has been just a painting workshop but this year we had juggling and mimicry and dances. It was really good to see the kids enjoy so much”.
And different it definitely was because the kids got to showcase more than just one form of art. One of the performances was actually a pyramid formation that was done by the children of Pudami Schools, supported by Dr. Reddy’s foundation.
Most importantly, the cultural programs helped the children unwind so that when the time came for drawing and painting they could let their imagination soar!
Their dancing ain't little. Credit: Immortal Impressionist
The most important thing is that this wasn’t the usual painting competition
where the winners would be given just a certificate and some random object as a prize. Kids bagging the first 25 positions would be professionally trained in the field of art by ‘Global Arts’ which is one of the sponsors of balakalakaar. The event was also sponsored by other big names like ‘Sujana’ and ‘APTDC’ with ‘Radio Mirchi’ as the radio partner.
Interestingly, balkalakaar got postponed this year due to all the agitation in the city. Bringing so many children to the venue which is set in one of the most sensitive locations in the city is definitely a matter of concern and because of all the disturbances even on the 19th things got a little bit delayed, the program that was supposed to begin at 9:00 began at around 10:00 because of the transportation problems. But then where is the fun in organizing anything if there aren’t a few problems to solve?
But it was all for the kids and they definitely had fun. Anusha from MV Foundation says “ikadiki ochi chala baagundi. Program chusi maaku kuda dance cheyali anipinchindi. Ikada maaku ichina food kuda chalaa baagundi. Memu andaram drawing kuda baaga vesam”.
AIESEC Hyderabad. Credit: Immortal Impressionist
Another girl named Madhavi from CAP Foundation says “Dance super chesinru.ikada villu andaru baaga chuskunnaru. Malli vaste memu kuda dance chestam. Ivalanta ikkada chaala enjoy chesam”.
And its not just the children who appreciated the effort. Madhusree Vemuru, head partnerships and communications, Dr.Reddy’s foundation says “balkalakaar was very well organized. It clearly shows the strength of planning and execution among the AIESEC volunteers. We look forward to a long and varied association with AIESEC”.
The small things that we do add up to something major one day. The bags in which the children were given the stationary were made out of paper and not plastic. This way yet another message was passed on to the children.
All in all the entire event turned out to be a massive success and AIESEC Hyderabad showed what its capable of once it sets its goals.
