“I had seen my children evolve from being fearful and subdued to being speakers of their own wish, fighters for their own right and actors of a fine kind! I told them I was proud of them and left, convinced that this was not the end; that it could not be. This story has only begun – the story of me and ‘My 36’ at Jamyang!"
- The Leh Project
I spent a month in Leh, teaching 36 young and bright children studying grades 6 and 7 at the Jamyang School, a residential school for about 300 children, most of whom came from distant conflict prone communities. I employed Forum theatre to steer dialogues about the school and the communities they came from. The process culminated with a 30 minute long Forum theatre performance, which was made of a series of 4 scenes, each with one unresolved conflict. Politics of Power and Hierarchy amongst the stakeholders of the system emerged as the underlining theme of the performance.
Children at Jamyang come from distant war prone villages. Their only reference to airplanes is that they deliver food packets during winters! To take them through a reflective process was challenging. However, working with (and not for) them, empowered me with the skill of understanding and them with the belief that they can make difference.
Our journey together was immersive and liberating. Here’s an attempt to commemorate some of the time spent at the school (Jamyang), facilitating theatre and everything that comes along with it!
https://longstories.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/actors-on-stage-in-5-4-3-2-1-applause020714/
