Felt excluded, left out or not loved: A play to rescue!

Students of GMPS Dollar’s Colony got an opportunity to understand differences among individuals as well as make new friends. This was possible due to the efforts of Nisha Abdulla, storyteller and co-founder Ever After Learning. Nisha, with lead actors Rahul and Bhavana presented the play Koottu on November 16.

Providing details about an emotional day at GMPS, Shilpa, organiser and volunteer said, “We had been preparing for this day for a month. The play that has no dialogues and is for kids who are eight years and older depicts differences between people, acknowledging it and working together. The subtle under theme is unity in diversity.”

A group of about 50 students witnessed the play that was followed by a workshop. The play started at 8.45am. Children, who are not part of our regular ongoing programme, also participated. Before the play began, children were told to be attentive and watch the play carefully, as it would be followed by a Q & A session.

“Soon after the play, I went up to the class and asked how they felt about the play. I was so happy when all the students raised their thumbs up and screamed ‘super’,” said Shilpa.

The students had understood the play well. During the interaction, they explained the two characters in the play that were different. They appeared different with the kind of clothes they wore and the things they carried. The characters were competitive by nature, but one was arrogant and the other was subtle and accommodating. Even though they travelled in the same bus, they would not talk to each other. The two become friends, play with each other and share a meal. There were other invisible characters guiding them that highlight their difference. The students observed that the wall created between them was because of the state of mind and how they felt when the wall breaks between them and they become friends again. The play catered to kids aged 10–14.

This was followed by an interaction with the actors and Nisha, director of the play.

Students then gathered to attend the workshop. About 75 kids participated that included students from other classes, who had not attended the play.

The first activity was about passing the ball. The student, who gets the ball, had to pass it to another child who made them feel welcome and included. The game went on till every student got the ball.

The next activity was for students to explain if they encountered scenarios where they felt excluded, left out or not loved. There were three kids who raised their hand.

“We were heart broken when a girl said that she was not included in games because she was fat. We asked students how they deal with such situations and we were surprised by their mature answers. Those who had not raised their hands earlier said that they just ignore, as the students who ignored them would come back to them soon. Many felt sad, alone, angry, helpless when excluded. Their emotions were raw and heart breaking, “said Shilpa.

The children were then told, “Now that they know how it feels, do they feel others must feel the same way? “And their unanimous answer was no. The next question was how they would ensure that nobody else feels that way? What would they do when they found someone alone?

Students said they would go up to the one alone and talk to them, include them in their activity, ask them what is wrong and how they can be helped. We realised that the kids are sensitive, mature and how they can solve a friend’s problem and make sure that the friend is not alone.

The final activity was about making a new friend. They had to find a new person, ask them their name, favourite colour and animal. Students completed this activity successfully.

“Some found new friends from their own class. Two girls who had earlier fought became new friends after watching the play. This was heartening and beautiful. When the activity was over and sessions closed, the girl who said that she was excluded because she was fat, came along with another younger girl and introduced her friend. She told us that whenever her own friends exclude her, it was this friend who stood by her, had lunch and played together. Even though she is much younger, she understood her better. This was another winning moment,” said Shilpa.

Special thanks to Volunteers who worked in making this event a success: Amarjyothi, Vasumathi, Roopa Nagavara, Shanko Bag and Ayush. If you resonate with our work, want to implement this model in your community, want to support this initiative, support crowdfunding campaign, or just want to drop in some encouraging words, we invite you to write to us at jaideep@tarkeybein.org :) Thank you Deepthi for scribing this story!