Few members of VKARE visited GBH Bangalore on 22 - March -2009 and organized painting competition along with other organizations. Snacks, Color pencils, gifts were donated to children as a part of this competition.

 

We wanted to share our experience with you, so in our president's words:

            The visit to the GBH (Government Boys Home), Bangalore for the Drawing competition and Snacks distribution was a memorable one. It was held on 5th April'09. Government Boys Home is a place where children of young age are bought who usually are the case of runaways from home, child labour, or lost. A few of us have already been volunteering to go there every sunday so that we can talk to the child and counsel them, as well as, be able to find put their details and trace them back to their parents (if possible). So, we along with an other organization, planned to hold a drawing and painting competition for these kids and distribute some snacks among the kids there. This was to be followed by a prize distribution for the drawing competition held. I am sharing my experience in this event as I want all of you to be able to relive the memorable and joyous experience that I had.

 

            It was a great day, and as usual I got late. I was worried as all the material for the drawing competition that we were going to organize along with "CSR-The Way Group" volunteers were with me. Apart form the drawing competition, the plan was to even distribute some snacks for the children; and follow it by prize distribution for the children winning in the drawing competition.

 

            But, the warm welcome I received by the children was great. They all started shouting and yelling with excitement as they saw me enter with the drawing and painting kits. All the kids came and surrounded me with pleasure. Then, me and all the other volunteers took time to get them back settled, sitting and ready, for the commence of the drawing competition.

 

            We, volunteers from "VKARE Association" (Shahnaz Ali, Praveen Kumar N, Tulasi Nagaraj Rao, Mansoor Alam) and some other volunteers form "CSR- The Way Group", made them sit in groups of four  or five children. The colors and erasers were to be shared amongst them. The children were so nice and adjusting that they were ready to share those with even the other group of children sitting beside them if required. They all have a great sense of sharing and caring for each other. We started of with distributing the pencils to all the children and the erasers (one for each group), and then asked the children to write their name and the place they belong to on the papers distributed earlier. All of our volunteers helped the children with writing their names, if the kids did not know how to do it. Most of them knew hoe to, if not in english, they atleast wrote their names in their own regional languages (the volunteers took care to write their names in english for our identification).

 

            It was fun to see all the children draw with such enthusiasm and excitement. They were calling out for us whenever we were around, to see their work. It was such a pleasure watching those innocent children full of excitement and pride at how their work of drawing was turning out to be. Some of the children at first didn't show much interest in drawing, but once the whole competition started, they joined in the flow of excitement, came rushing to us asking for pencils and sheets to start their own drawings too.

 

            The volunteers, including me were doing our bit by giving sharpened pencils if the children came running to us with their pencil points broken. And then later followed by keeping these broken pencil points back to what they were by using the sharpeners provided to each of the volunteers. And keep going around, trying to see if any child requires anything more.

 

            Soon they were coming to an end of their drawings, so some of us volunteers took the responsibility of distributing colors. We had bought a random number of sets of crayons and sketches each. At random, we distributed the sets of crayons and sketches one per each group; trying to make sure the near by groups had a set of crayons and sketches each; so the children could share.

 

            As they filled colors into their own drawings, you could see the color of excitement on their faces too. The joy and the smiles on the faces of these children made our event the most memorable one. Soon, they finished their drawings and came running to us to submit their drawings and in their sweet little voices asking " how is my drawing, akka? ". This was almost with each child. The pride in their work was imminent on their faces. As, the child finished their drawing the kit was collected from him, and he was asked to wait for results for an hour or two, their impatience was obvious. They, the children, themselves offered to help us manage the other kids still sitting and finishing their drawings, helping them get colors and what all they required. Just to make them happy we allowed them to do that. It was so cute of them to themselves offer to help us. Even though not required, the joy on their faces when we told them yes, was great.

 

            Once we finished with the drawing competition, it was time for their lunch in GBH. As planned earlier, we were to give sweets and snacks with their regular lunch. We were helped in this task by the officers of the GBH. We al lined up with all different snacks managed by 2-3 of the volunteers, and some stationed up to queue up the children and then allowing them to come in a single line. As the children came, we filled up their plates with laddus, samosa and chips; and then they proceeded to sit in a neat lined arrangement in their dining hall on the guidance of the officers. It was a fun to distribute amongst the kid. They were very happy to see what we were serving them along with their lunch. Their lunch was served as usual by their officers to them.  The manners & discipline with the children is so much, that none of them started to eat. When we asked why so, they replied in their usual charm; we need to pray before we eat. Then when we told pray and proceed ahead, they said we all pray together and were waiting till all the 210 children were seated before they could start to eat.

 

            As suggested by the officers, after the children prayed and were bout to start eating;   we announced the prizes that were to be given for the drawing and painting competition. We all volunteers together decided which paintings deserve the best prize. There were first, second and third prizes in each category. the categories being - pencil sketch, crayons, sketches, concept drawing. The drawings were nice for their age. Some of the kids surprised us with their drawings. There was also a special prize given to a kid, for the best painting, which included concept drawing and painting all together. This prize was given by one of our members Praveen Kumar N. All the prizes were given to the students by their officers. It was a loud and noisy affair, but in a good sense. The joy and happiness was said aloud by the claps of the children.

 

            After this a special mention to some other contributors, N. Swaroop, Himanshu Singh  and Sridhar V from IMRB International who specially contributed for the snacks and also a special gift to all the children of GBH - a set of basketball set with nets. There was also a snacks distribution amongst the staff of GBH after finishing with the kids. It was a good end. The kids were very happy to get a basketball to play with now.

 

            The day ended on a very good and satisfactory not of conducting the event very successfully. This became more whenever we remembered the smiles and happy giggles of the children during the whole event. I would also take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers from VKARE as well as from other organizations. It is because of our combined effort that this event could be organized in a successful way.

Prizes were awarded to the kids for the best paintings.

Pencil Drawing 1st Prize

Conceptual Drawing 1st Prize.

Best Crayon Work 1st Prize.

Random Drawing 1st prize.

Best Painting work.