Covid-19 is not only impacting children’s physical health, but has also changed the way they function. In the past two years, schools have closed and peer interactions along with academics and co-curriculum activities have all taken place from children’s screens. This has become the theme of a competition where students were asked to express through drawings how the pandemic has changed their lives.
Children from India, Pakistan and Nepal gathered on Saturday to express themselves through drawings. Apeejay Schools, together with Apeejay Anand Children’s Library, organized the 30th edition of the Apeejay Anand Art Workshop on the lawns of the Apeejay House. The theme this year was “Sakaratmak Parivartan” – “How has my life changed?”.
“We want to ensure that students dispel the fear of the uncertainties they have encountered in recent years and bring new rays of hope and positivity. We want children to enjoy sessions with peers and educators. We want to make our schools a wellness space, where children are cared for with care, love and affection so that they can settle in easily and at their own pace and get used to this new normal,” said Kiranjit Singh Pannu, Chief Executive Officer, Apeejay- schools.
More than 1000 students aged nine to twelve participated in both online and offline mode to illuminate canvases with their imagination. Students from different corners of India including Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Gujrat, Haryana, Madurai and Hyderabad virtually participated in the workshop. Children were given A4 paper along with pencils, erasers and pastels to explore their creativity.
The lead singer of the popular Bengali band Bhoomi, songwriter and composer Surojit Chatterjee graced the occasion to encourage the young minds.
Aadhya Kothari, a 6th grade student said, “Before covid everything was great. During the lockdown I always feel bad that I can’t meet my friends. Today I painted a school bus. It’s similar to the one that took me to school. This bus makes me happy.”
Aliya Arif, another child participant, said: “My best friend is Swapnil. I couldn’t meet him, I wanted to meet him, that’s what I signed.”
Read all the latest news, breaking news and live updates from the parliamentary elections here.
