Got a story to tell?

A project for slum and street children looks for volunteers with inspiring tales.

It’s said that the best way to teach a child is through a story. And that’s exactly what the Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre plans to do through storytelling sessions for slum and street children. These will not be just any stories, but ones that will inspire and inculcate values in the children who are getting primary education and midday meals at 16 police stations across Kolkata.

Slated to kick off by year-end, the storytelling sessions will start with two centres and then spread to others. Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre (SAMRC) has approached schools, universities and bodies such as Dignity, HelpAge India, Rotary and local clubs for volunteers to tell the stories. The first volunteers’ meet will be held on November 16 where story ideas will be discussed and chosen. On November 19-20, puppeteer Anurupa Roy will hold a workshop with the storytellers to brief them about the art of storytelling and the basics of using props and simple puppets.

The sessions are part of Nabadisha, a project undertaken by the Kolkata police and NGOs Vikramshila and CRY. These have been initiated by SAMRC under its PeaceWorks project, which was started in 2002 after the Gujarat riots with the aim to strengthen values of mutual coexistence and respect for all communities among the youth. The project curriculum has had runs in several Kolkata schools such as La Martiniere, St Xavier’s, Birla High and Future Foundation. “But there was an increasing restlessness among us at Seagull at not being able to reach more people,” says Megha Malhotra, chief coordinator, SAMRC. She feels it’s time to involve the community more. Hence, the search for volunteers.

Funds, too, are a concern. “The funding from Ford Foundation ends this year,” says Malhotra who hopes that some organisation will take up their cause.