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VISION
The four-day camps
mission was to foster full participation and involvement of
disabled children with non-disabled
children in a
cultural ambience. It was an attempt at disabled and
non-disabled children discovering new ways of reaching out to each other as well
as discovering new ways of looking at life and living fully. This
event aimed to challenge prejudice and preconception and enable
the physically challenged to become equal partners in society. It tried
to extend the boundaries of contemporary art, music and dance
by developing a new aesthetic, which embraces power, technical
achievement and
strong visual imagery. Project ANJALI is a five-year
demonstration project, which will make an effort to empower children who have been
stigmatized and oppressed so they may participate fully in society by getting trained
under renowned gurus and it will further focus on integration by enabling disabled and
non-disabled children to discover each other.
PARTNERS
Office of Vice-President (East), India Chapter of Disabled Peoples’
International, UNICEF Bhubaneswar, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre,
Calcutta, Department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Orissa,
and local NGO’s AAINA, SHARE, SMRC and MAMA were the partners.
FACTS
77 children participated in the four day ANJALI CAMP held at P-II
Jaydev Vihar. 51 children were physically, mentally and sensory
challenged and the rest were non-disabled children from mainstream
schools in Bhubaneswar. Four workshops were organized on Art and
Craft, Dance, Music and Theatre. Each workshop had one coordinator
and two to three assistants.
The three fold objective of the camp was successfully achieved:
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Integration between disabled and non-disabled children.
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Cross disability integration.
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Identification of gifted ‘challenged’ children for ANJALI
Scholarship.
On 1st
December Project Anjali was inaugurated by Mr. Tom Olsen, State
Representative UNICEF-Orissa and President Sangeet Natak Academy,
Dr. Padmashree Priyambada Mohanty-Hejmadi. Mr. Olsen said UNICEF
always stood committed to children. Dr. Hejmadi was all praises
for an unique effort in the state of Orissa. An integrated
dance ballet "SHRAVAN KUMAR", choreographed by Ms. Aruna Mohanty,
a renowned Odissi dancer, stole the heart of one and all. Of the
33 performing artists none could identify the physically and mentally
challenged children.
ANJALI
CARNIVAL
Never had the streets of Bhubaneswar seen such a bright and colourful
assemblage of children on the streets. Singing, dancing and spirited
they danced to the Raj Bhawan. His Excellency the Governor of
Orissa, Mr. M.M.Rajendran and the First Lady Mrs. Sushila Rajendran,
interacted with the children for a long time. Both the Governor
of Orissa and the First Lady praised the ‘integrated dance ballet’
presentation made in Rabindra Mandap on 1st December
and the First Lady expressed interest in a repeat show in Raj
Bhawan premises. The Raj Bhawan staff were extremely cordial and
welcoming in their disposition.
CAMP ANJALI
Mrs. Inderjeet Khurana, founder of Ruchika School, an eminent
social activist and an ‘Angel’ of street children in Bhubaneswar
inaugurated Camp Anjali in an unconventional manner. She visited
each workshop and interacted with participants individually. On
2nd evening we had ex-chief secretary of Orissa and
present Ombudsman of RBI Sri Sudhanshu Bhusan Mishra, who emphasized
the need of people realizing that challenged persons are not disabled
but have many other capabilities for becoming equal partners.
The Guest of Honour Dr. Swami Arupa Nanda, Chairman of Arupa Mission
Research Foundation enlightened the gathering with what Anjali
actually meant according to our ancient scriptures.
A RT AND CRAFTS WORKSHOP
This was the most colourful and vibrant workshop. Colour and imagination
flowed in all possible hues. Ms. Sonali Pattnaik coordinated this
workshop. We had two resource persons from Ratnagiri, Mr. Pathak
and Mr. Rajput, who were here with us due to the personal initiative
of the Director of Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata, Sri
P.K.Mohanty.
DANCE
WORKSHOP
Sri Chittaranjan Acharya, Coordinator, Dance Workshop, developed
a theme on ‘Shunya’ meaning space.
MUSIC
WORKSHOP
It was coordinated by Mr. Laxmikanta Palit and Ms. Rashmi Mohanty.
The theme song of Camp Anjali was composed and children joyously
sang together cutting across all barriers of ability-disability,
caste, class, gender and creed.
THEATRE
WORKSHOP
It was coordinated by Mr. Prashant Mohapatra and Ms. Ajita De.
The most unique thing about this workshop was the level and depth
of integration we achieved. The participants became friends overriding
barriers of language, speech or disabilities. They developed their
own theme.
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