Kolkata: Celebrating childhood on the Environment Day

It was a mixed bag celebration of mirth and merriment for around 60 kids, who, accompanied by CRY volunteers, came from different corners of Kolkata and Howrah, to give wings to their imagination, desires, aspirations and the joy of learning.

In the event children participated in a day-long session with a range of fun and frolic, including workshops on paper craft making, origami, clay art and a walk through the Indian Museum. Laced with it, was a movie screening session, extolling the need for preserving Nature and exhorting the children to be sensitive to the natural world and instilling in them, a sense of need to preserve it.

The key attraction for children was an interactive session with youth icons of the City. Acclaimed actor-director Parambrata Chattopadhyay, artist cum sculptor Sanatan Dinda and Kolkata’s chess icon Dibyendu Barua attended the session and spent quality time with them. The guest panel also included Verghese Kunjachan, DCP Traffic Kolkata, Anil Mistri from WWF and Ms. Radhika Mishra, a practicing advocate at the High Court.

The prime objective behind the initiative was to bring children from disadvantageous backgrounds together and offer them opportunities for exposure to newer horizons. According to Mohini Moulik, a volunteer with CRY (East), "It was a great opportunity for the kids who are usually confined to their communities and denied of the brighter aspects of life, to come out of their mundane everyday reality and gain exposure through this event.”

Puja Marwaha, CEO CRY said, “We believe that children with limited opportunities do need spaces to nurture their creativity, and one of the ways to provide them with opportunities to interact with real life heroes who are role models. This will help motivate and inspire children to move towards bigger dreams and accomplishments.”

Jayanta Sengupta, Director, The Indian Museum said, “We are observing the World Environment Day with a commitment to make the Museum more inclusive and participatory for all. The museums across the globe are redefining their role from that of a collector of articles to an institution with a responsibility to work with historical facts, relating them to human rights, democracy, and education in present societies. I am glad to collaborate with CRY- Child Rights and You to make the museum place an activity area for children."

Ola cabs, Mio Amore, Friends’ FM and Parle Bailey Mineral Water extended support to make the event successful.

The day ended with a session where children were gifted small saplings with their names written on the pots, along with the craftworks that they themselves made, during the workshop.