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NCP Children's Mela 2012

Neighbourhood Children’s Parliament (NCP) is the concept that is now widely accepted to be the appropriate way to help the children grow in leadership qualities and social responsibility. NCP gives children an opportunity to think about the needs of their neighbours and help them as much as they are able to. Through NCPs they come to know the various departments of parliaments and their activities and they commit various social work activities by passing resolutions in their NCPs and writing petitions on social issues.

ARUWYE is engaged in formation of NCPs by training the Evening Study Center children in our working areas towards a noble cause of giving an opportunity to children to grow in social consciousness and leadership and to stand for the rights of children. ARUWYE has Formed 43 NCPs in 6 FMA houses of INM province out of which 24 NCPs’ members had taken an oath on their duties as ministers and members of NCPs and certificates were given to them.

ARUWYE organized “NCP Children’s Mela 2012” on 9^th and 10^th of May 2012 at Madurai Auxilium Center for the selected members of NCP Children who had taken an oath. This was a celebration of sharing, caring, learning, competing and planning. There participated 39 selected NCP members and 8 animators in the NCP Children’s Mela. They came from the different NCPs formed in the surrounding villages of Puliyadithammam, Keela Eral and Ulagampatti.

Sr. Margret, the superior of the house presided over the inauguration of the NCP Mela along with Sr. Sathya and Sr. Prakasi. Sr. Arokia Mary Selvi, the SDC, Sr. Tamil Selvi, the NCP co-ordinator for Puliyadithammam and Sr. Annie, the NCP co-ordinator for Keela Eral were present throughout the NCP Mela programme. Mr. Sagayam, the program co-ordinator of ARUWYE, Mr. Vigetharan and Mr. Francis Ramu, the MSW students of Loyola College were the resource persons for the programme. During the inauguration the representatives of NCPs read out their annual reports which consisted the formation of NCPs, their activities and initiatives, success stories and their plan of activities in the coming days.

The first day the children were enlightened on the four basic rights of children by Mr. Ramu. They were given a refreshment session on NCP by Mr. Sagayam. Mr. Vigetharan taught them how to write a petition to officials. He also taught them how to frame slogans for placard making and drawing pictures based on social issues.

All the 47 participants including animators were divided into 4 groups for conducting competitions and group activities among the groups. A competition was held on illustration of social issues in pictures and writing slogans among groups. The children illustrated in pictures the issues of Degrading Environment, Women Empowerment and violation of Traffic rules. There was a cultural event at night in which the children sang social awareness songs, performed variety of dances both in solo and groups and enacted comedies.

The second day the children were trained in street-play which is said to be one of the traditional arts of Tamils to portray the social issues. There was another competition among groups on performing a street-play choosing their own theme. They prepared street plays on themes like Dowry system, Infanticide and Hygienic living. Every one of the children participated in the street plays and performed very well within the limited time for preparation.

Prizes were distributed to all the children and animators for their best performances. Mr. Sagayam, the program co-ordinator thanked everyone for their contribution to make the event a successful one.

The Children said that the NCP children’s Mela gave them an opportunity to meet their friends and colleagues, learn from each other and reveal their talents. They leant the skills to write petitions, frame slogans and perform street plays which they will practice in their villages while claiming for their rights.

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