December 9, 2010
Dept of Social Work, Coimbatore
 

Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Varma and Amrita Shergill were renowned painters who contributed great works of art still appreciated and enjoyed throughout the country to this day. Their creative expressions opened minds and changed perceptions.
 

Painting creates beauty, influences the views of society and can also be used as a modality for early childhood learning.
 

When children paint or draw, their creativity develops, their cognitive skills become better and they acquire fine motor skills. Not to mention the positive impact this has on a child’s self-esteem.
 

Inspired to create a fun learning environment and help build confidence in young children, students of Master of Social Work from Amrita’s Coimbatore campus recently organized a painting and drawing contest at two Balawadi schools.
 

MSW student Ajish I. R. coordinated the contest at C. G. Puthur Balawadi, encouraging the 14 participants to unleash their imagination and discover hidden talents.
 

Social work students Veena Suresh, Sreeni and Madhusudanan S., were judges at the event. They expressed praise and provided positive feedback to the children. “We were happy to be part of this event and appreciated the children for their enthusiastic participation,” they stated.
 

Parameshwari, a C.G. Puthur Balawadi teacher helped award prizes to the winners. Perhaps the most valuable prize that the children received, however, was the lasting impact on their self-confidence.
 

At K. G. Chavadi Balawadi, MSW student Santhosh guided 18 children in expressing their spirit of wonder and imagination through the contest. Assistant Professor Nagalingam was the chief guest at the program.
 

K. G. Chavadi head mistress Sreekala and Balawadi helper Mani were also present.
 

The winning drawings were laminated and showcased for all to appreciate.
 

Balawadi schools provide little children from low-income families the opportunity to have an elementary education. Typically located in a community space, the schools provide children a place to come to, for a few hours every day, to learn, have fun and play.
 

Many times this experience encourages the children to start going to a regular school, thus paving the way for their education.
 

In this way, Balawadi schools are seen as stepping stones to child education. By providing an environment where the little children could freely express themselves, the Amrita MSW students helped lay more stepping stones; these for their creative development.
 

Just as Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ravi Varma and Amrita Shergill are remembered for their contributions, these Amrita MSW students will also be remembered for theirs. The children whose lives they touched will not forget them.