Machar Colony, located just off the Mauripur Road, is one of the most underdeveloped areas in the city, and home to a diverse ethnic community, most of whom are employed by the fisheries. The majority of families lack basic facilities such as water, sanitation and health facilities, but recently, Machar Colony was the scene of pride, colour and excitement. That day children from several of the local schools showed their parents and visitors the fruits of their art and photography workshop organized during the summer 2008, by the NGO, Concern for Children (CFC).
Since 2006, CFC, that is involved with several of the schools, has been organizing these events for all interested children, with an enthusiastic response from professional artists and photographers who teach the children the basic skills required. This year the team acquired about 20 ancient cameras from various sources, and the children took turns to shoot two reels of film each. Viewing the children’s efforts at art and photography was a moving experience as one glimpsed traces of real potential, aesthetic awareness and imagination.

The paintings were delightful, featuring rainbows, mountains, sunsets, their families and impressions of the busy life around them. The photographs were amazing and taken from various angles to create interest. Landscape was a favourite subject and in one case, a rare patch of green created by plants in pots was arranged by a student who placed a small child in the midst for his composition. The young photographers were on hand to discuss their photos at length. Asked about future hopes, several youngsters owned their ambitions to be doctors, but a youth of around nine years who was not part of the programme but showed interest in the work, related that he was employed in a towel factory. Since his hours were from 8:30 a.m. till Magherib prayers, school was out of the question.

The art pieces shown at four of the local schools were carefully arranged on coloured mounts fixed to the wall. The exception was the Kiran Academy, where the teachers had set up a tented area to hold the work and parents had been visiting since early morning. The children welcomed visitors with handshakes and smiles. A favourite subject among the girls appeared to be a flowered Edwardian bonnet as seen in a book, and reproduced with delicate detail. About 250 children had attended the workshops and we traced the progress of the workshop; how the children began to realize the potential of the three primary colours and created rainbows with great enjoyment; and the move from a negative background to varied areas of texture.
CFC is hopeful of continuing with their art workshops in summer, giving the children enormous pleasure and, identifying the artists of the future. In this context an art exhibition with artists donating their work for the cause is planned at Chawkandi Art in May.