Street Theatre workshop and book by CRT

Street plays for child labour eradication and promoting primary education : 

Street plays for child labour eradication and promoting primary education A presentation on the joint project by

Overview : 

Overview CRT-Child Rights Trust an introduction People with disabilities, Theatre and Child rights education Joining hands with ILO for the street theatre compendium The process The status

1. Child Rights Trust : 

1. Child Rights Trust Vision : Every Right for Every Child Our Mission To Endeavour to protect and promote all the inherent and indivisible rights of children whoever and wherever they are. Our Aims To achieve and to consolidate the rightful position of children in general to the benefits and services to which they are entitled as children, and to a healthy and safe environment which is their due as human beings To endeavor to protect, maintain and develop children’s inherent right to peaceful existence and quality of life to which they are entitled To sensitize civil society and the authorities on child rights To carry out statistical research and research in social sciences relevant to children and their families To secure the effective use of the legal process to remedy children’s grievances.

CRT-Child Rights Trust : 

CRT-Child Rights Trust Scope and Coverage The scope of CRT’s activities is all over India, with a special focus on the south. Its field activities are mainly in Karnataka, while its training and support are available nationally. Current Projects Monitoring of legislative discussions on children’s issues and children’s parliament Building Child Friendly Grama Sabhas through Child Rights Special Grama Sabhas Child Rights and theatre Assisting in the implementation of JJ Act 2000 Some completed assignments Consultancy to develop State Plan of Action for Children Consultancy to development of Sate Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking of women and Children Theatre for development with people with disabilities

Slide 5: 

Some recent Achievements Analysed the Question Hour of both the houses of Karnataka and published the document while honoring 28 MLAs and MLCs as Child Friendly legislators (2005). A similar exercise is completed for the year 2006. Children’s Parliament conducted in 10 districts. Influenced the RDPR, GOK to issue a circular to conduct Child Rights Special Grama Sabhas by all Gram Panchayats Developed three street theatre groups of youth predominantly with some physical disabilities. Published five books with field and research experiences on various Child Rights issues. Sent recommendations to the GOI on the XI Five Year Plans on priorities for children by conducting a South India level consultation with UNICEF CRT-Child Rights Trust

2. People with disabilities, Theatre and Child rights education : 

2. People with disabilities, Theatre and Child rights education Along with organisations working with children, disability development and rehabilitation, CRT holds regular workshops and training courses for activists working in the field of disability development on issues related to child rights and disabilities issues. Theatre - both street plays and proscenium plays - are used as a means to reach out to the trainees and the masses. This has initiated discussions on the village structure, services available and the need for taking care of children from the rights perspective. The activity has reached out to about 60 youths directly and more than 5000 villagers. The experience has been very enriching for both CRT as well as the trainees &the orgn.

People with disabilities, Theatre and Child rights education : 

People with disabilities, Theatre and Child rights education Developed a module for a long term programme to train field functionaries with disabilities while using theatre as a base. Performed in various state level and national level programmes and events Presented research paper on Use of Theatre in Poverty Stricken Society in an international seminar at Rangayana, Mysore Developed TOT material on street theatre and applied the same in the field – Kolar District In touch with main stream theatre through performing teams and play writes.

3. Developing street theatre compendium : 

3. Developing street theatre compendium A call from ILO inspired us to take the challenge of developing street plays on child labour elimination issues. A good chance to put to use our past experience An opportunity to strengthen CR Clubs, SDMCs, GPs, CBOs, NGOs and schools to popularise education and to put an end to Child labour. Team from CRT – Vasudeva Sharma, Nagasimha G. Rao, Consultant – Venkatesh Assistant - Thippuraj

4. The process : 

4. The process Preparation In house consultation on the process to be followed. Consulting theatre experts in the state for advise and ideas Developed a concept note on Why street Theatre for propagating education and elimination of Child labour and shared the same with potential partners in the project. Collection of available street plays, stories, songs from various groups and individuals followed by review of the same, Consultation with probable resource persons – Na Srinivas, Mohanachandra, Umashanker Periodi, MSVenugopal, Shashidhara Bharigar, Konila Raghavendra, Ravi, etc. Invitation sent to 75 prospective play writers from various parts of Karnataka

The process : 

The process The Workshop -2nd to 4th Nov. 2006 35 play writers participated. Inauguration with key note address by Mr.Sanjeev Kumar and Mr.B. Suresh Input on Child Rights, Child Labour and various children’s situation in Karnataka vis-à-vis national and global situation Identifying areas for intervention while relating education and child labour Preparation of quickies with short stories developed in groups Developing stories for performable street plays Inputs from Umashanker on Social problems and street play, Mr.Srinivas on Street theatre and Development and by Prof. MS.Venugopal on social Values and Street play. Developing plays by the invited writers and sharing the themes Short performance by the invited group on child rights issues.

The process : 

The process Issues and subjects in the street plays Importance of primary education Elimination of Child Labour Girl Child Education Education and education facilities to children with disabilities Child Rights Role of Gram Panchayats in child protection and child development Prevention of Child Trafficking Juvenile Justice

The process : 

The process Structure of the plays in the compendium Introduction to the topics/issue of the street play The preparation and rehearsals for the performance of the play How to conduct a street theatre Workshop Characters and the time required Tips for the directors Questions for discussions The street play

The process : 

The process Street plays to eliminate child labour The directors are teachers or volunteers Actors are children-students and non students (child labour!) and teachers and volunteers The plays can be adopted to urban, rural and tribal areas and the child labour situation can be altered by the directors/teachers Can use slogans, charts, banners along with the plays The plays involve almost no cost or low cost The audience – children, parents, teachers, villagers, SHG members, GP members and of course employers, (both literates and illiterates) The plays are designed for Class room performance / intimate theatre School quadrangle or school stage Village chouki or such place (CgÀ½ PÀmÉÖ) Near the Gram Panchayat Office

The process : 

The process Post Workshop Reading, screening and editing of the plays for performance Of the total 85 plays obtained about 4o+ plays can be staged. CRT team has put it about 15 new plays for the compendium Preparation of background material Notes for each play for the directors and performance Word processing, proof reading of the plays and background material Layout designing Work with the artist for preparing suitable art work for each play and the cover page Translation of the plays in progress.

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Release of Compendium in Kannada On 15th June, 2007 the Kannada compendium was launched at APSA (Association for Promotion of Social Action) by the Chairman of Karnataka Nataka Academy Mr. Srinivas G. Kannappa. Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, National Project Coordinator, ILO and Ms. Neetu Lamba, ILO representative from New Delhi were also presented on that occasion. After launching, two street plays from the compendium was performed by NINASAM and NEMMADI groups.

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Publicity material about the Compendium

Slide 18: 

Press Coverage on Compendium Release

Slide 19: 

The Compendium

Slide 20: 

Street Play Competition The Street play competition was held on 16-18, August 2007 at St. Joseph Commerce College, Bangalore. More than 18 colleges from rural and urban Bangalore districts were took part in this competition by selected plays from the compendium. Both participants and spectators have responded positively. Ms. Shalini Rajneesh, Secretary to Govt. DWCD and Mr. Chowta, Eminent theater personality and Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, National Project Coordinator, ILO were presented and honour the participants.

Slide 21: 

Campaign material on Street Play Competition

Slide 22: 

Translations Translation of the compendium into English is completed and it is under printing. Translation and DTP of the compendium into Urdu and Marathi is completed and it is in final stage. It took long time because of difficulty in the language of Urdu and Marathi for us. Also we have faced difficulty in getting the Urdu and Marathi translators who understand the problem of child labour in depth.

5. The status : 

5. The status Word processing and layout ready. Art work under development Translation pending Students of Christ college showing interest in performing some of the plays in their college festival on street plays.

Future plans : 

Future plans Finalisation of the compendium Facilitating publication Workshop with performing teams and some select teachers Translation Performance with children in select schools. Documenting the experience for future usage.