voices... - Deepalaya

Maitree-Shree
Deepalaya did not break for summer vacation
even for schools because it was believed
that the slum children could be
made to utilise the time in creative activities.
This would not only give them a
break from studies but also help in discovering
and displaying their latent talents.
Accordingly in 1993 summer break
Deepalaya involved the school children in
various creative pursuits like singing, danc-
‘ART WITH A HEART’
ing, art, craft, painting, debating etc. This
was with the purpose of inculcating confidence,
leadership and team-work in the
children.
When the summer break ended, there was
a suggestion that the children should be
given an opportunity to present their
learnings in a performance by displaying
their talents. This resulted in a grand function
in which the children performed a
Shakespearean classic, various Indian eth-
nic dance forms etc. Sponsor parents,
Government officials and other guests
where invited.
Deepalaya concluded that it was an excellent
way of encouraging latent talent development
besides tackling the problem
of dropouts and also providing a platform
for solidarity and fellow-feeling among the
children. This initiative was given the
name of ‘Maitree-Shree’ and became an
annual feature which was from then on a
common meeting-ground
for the sponsors and their
sponsored children.
Abhinaya
With the launch of Fundraising
in 1990, Deepalaya
had started approaching the
public schools in Delhi
with the intention of
bringing together children
from the elite classes and
the slum children, and also
to plan ways to fund-raise.
The underlying philosophy
of this initiative was
also to sensitise the elite
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