Brief Report on the Celebration of International Human Rights day
10th December 2009
The Centre for Child and the Law (Centre), National Law School of India University (Law School) in collaboration with Karnataka State Legal Services Authority celebrated the International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2009. The event on the 10th December 2009 was sponsored by a German law firm Clarke Borne.
As part of the celebrations of the International Human Rights Day the Centre conducted many programmes for the children from various Government schools under the Nagarbhavi cluster. We conducted drawing, essay writing and skit competitions for the higher primary school children. The topics for the drawing were nature and festivals of India, the topics for the essay writing competition being my ideal teacher and my ideal school, further the themes for the skit was child labour, right to education and child rights. We separately conducted drawing and fancy dress competition for the lower primary school children. It was decided by the Centre’s team that the preliminary rounds of the competitions will be held in the respective schools and the final winners shall be awarded on the 10th December 2009. The Centre’s team along with volunteers from the Law School Community on 4th December 2009 visited all the schools and briefed the teachers about the competitions that were going to be held in their schools. Further the schools were also informed about the rules, regulations, themes, the number of children to be participating etc. The foreign exchange students from Germany enthusiastically volunteered to visit the schools and sponsored the crayons and drawing sheets for the drawing competition.
The student volunteers with the Centre’s team conducted drawing and essay writing competitions at all the schools on 7th December 2009. There were 8 Government Schools participating and there were around 1200 children participating in all the events. The volunteers collected all the drawings and the drawings were judged internally by the faculty and centre members. The best 5 drawings from each school were shortlisted and the best three drawings were awarded prizes. The same procedure was followed for the essays written by the children. A team of three persons on 9th December 2009 visited each school and screened the skits performed by the children and selected the best 5 schools who would be performing at the finals in Law School. The student volunteers put up all the drawings made by the children around the campus.
The events on 10th December 2009 started at 1:30 pm. All the children from different schools assembled at the quadrangle by 1:30 pm. The chief guest for the day was Mr. Rajesh, who was a street child who was supported by an organization through whose support he completed his 10th, pre university and diploma. He is currently pursuing his engineering. He was an inspiration to many children. The stage was chaired by the Vice Chancellor Mr Venkata Rao, Registrar Prof Nagaraj, Mr Rajesh, Ms Arlene Manoharan and Mr Niranjan Aradhya. Ms Arlene welcomed the gathering in English and Prof Nagraj welcomed the gathering in Kannada. The Vice Chancellor inaugurated the celebrations. Mr. Rajesh spoke a few words about his childhood and gave a message to the children on the importance of education. The compeering for the afternoon was done by student volunteers.
The afternoon began with fancy dress competition, where the lower primary children dressed as various characters. Children dressed as freedom fighters, future predictors, bangle sellers, tribals etc. they were enthusiastically encouraged by all other school children. The judges for the event were Dr. Sarasu and Prof Maitrey. The second event for the day was the skit competition. A total number of 5 schools participated each school had 7 par
ticipants. The skits were based on child labour and right to education mainly with catchy slogans. The judge for the skit was Prof Elizabeth. The next event for the day was to give away mementos to all the participating schools as a token of appreciation. The fourth event for the day was the most exciting event where the foreign exchange students of the law school performed a dance and made the children dance along with them. The dance along was enjoyed by each and everyone. There were volunteers also dancing along with the children. Further the compeering volunteers continuously interacted with the children , made them recite poems, sing songs and recite tongue twisters.
Participant of the fancy dress competition
Competitors of Skit Competition from Government Higher Primary School, Pantarpalya
The program reached its final stage with prize distribution, where Mr Rajana (Director of public instruction) joined us for the prize distribution. The wining participants and schools were excited receiving their prizes.
Winners of the skit competition from Mudalpalaya Government Higher Primary School with the Vice-Chancellor, NLSIU, Chief Guests Mr. Rajanna and Mr. Rajesh and the CCL team
As the programmes were happening, simultaneously refreshments were served to all the children (samosa, jalebi, and juice). The concluding remarks were given by the Vice Chacellor where he claimed this celebration to be the best human rights day celebration of his life. Further he also said that all the school children should be the students of law school after ten years.
Foreign exchange students from Germany performing to entertain the children
Dr Niranjan Aradhya thanked the teachers and participants. Further more Mr Rajana spoke a few words where he encouraged the children to study and performed better in schools. The final vote of thanks was given by Arlene where she thanked one and all.