SIDART believes that childhood is a time that allows for the freedom, play and creativity that is essential for the development of skills in later life and a happy childhood. However, the increasing number of children who are born in disadvantaged rural, semi- rural and slum regions will never have this opportunity. These children come from underprivileged strata of society where they lack the opportunity to develop their imagination, expression and creativity and thus do not develop the skills needed for their future.

In January 2009, SIDART carried out a creative mask workshop in Sun Jhevanand Academy, using arts and crafts to develop the imagination, creativity and free expression of the children.

Why masks :
The workshop would effectively build their confidence and their faith in their ability to create and achieve. Creating a mask also allows them to express themselves as more then
just slum children. It promotes a new awareness and encourages them to view themselves in a different light, challenging their situation and striving for more.

The workshop :
Over three days, the children developed their ideas, exploring what they wished to express through their mask. With encouragement, they then created their masks using paper mache and painted them according to their designs.

The workshop was extremely successful! The children really enjoyed the workshop, becoming extremely involved. By the end of the workshop, they were extremely proud of their creations. It was also extremely positive to see how many of the other children in the school were tremendously curious, wanting to join in with the workshop themselves and have their own mask to play with.

It appeared that individual creativity had been oppressed in this school with the promotion of either ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers, meaning that some children found it difficult to understand that they could create whatever they wanted. However with encouragement the children become more creative and individual. They were enthusiastic and extremely engaged in their activity and although this was only a three day workshop, progress was made, with the children showing a definite increased ability to think outside the box. In the real world, there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’answers.


SIDART is still looking for funding to continue running this project in other schools in disadvantaged areas.

                  Please contact SIDART if you are interested to conduct such workshops in Schools or  otherwise.

sidart@sidartngo.org

0141 2650894

09929666088

www.sidartngo.org