Author: Eva Cunningham, Tate Soller
Zeba always had a keen interest in work
in the development field, but even after her studies in Social Work - like many in this area -
it remained unclear to her what road she was to take. Exploring her interests further, she
discovered that working with children is where her passion lies. Pursuing her passion for creative
learning, Zeba co-founded Arpan in 2010 along with Sneha Thakur. The vision
tied to this is that of children being able to learn through innovation,
curiosity and exploration. To foster this notion, Zeba facilitates children
from underprivileged and low socio-economic backgrounds to engage in the arts
via a range of classes, including dance, craft, painting, storytelling and
theatre.
'Art', she explains, 'allows children to
open up and to grow without boundaries. Art places a focus on the child rather
than purely on the education angle itself, granting them greater freedom to
explore and learn about themselves and others'.
Art, in this context, represents a medium for empowerment and social
change. Zeba explained this, drawing on an example of one center, situated in a
school for the blind. Despite the array of challenges these children face, they are able to gain confidence
through these different art classes. This confidence is something they can then
carry through their lives, empowering them.
We met with Zeba at one of Arpan's three
project locations, Rainbow Town. This project is based around the idea of
“creative Movement therapy’ which seeks to empower the children through
encouraging them to use their imagination. The motto for the project is 'Let's
paint the town rainbow', which encapsulates the work and the spirit engendered
in the place. Here, the program works with children living in urban slums of
New Delhi. This rainbow is personified by the children themselves as well. We
watch in admiration as the children colorfully twirl around the room in their
unique styles, freely embodying their own definitions of themes like air and
water, and responding openly to a diverse range of music, showcasing each of
their own talent areas.
But the road to reach here hasn't always
been smooth sailing for Zeba. She has encountered barriers posed by
organizational and legal aspects. But, as she reflects, this wasn't something
that was going to stop her from what she's doing. She hasn't encountered any
sizeable challenges in permission for children's participation in her classes
either. Most parents, as Zeba explains, simply think 'why not? Its art.',
without an understanding of the value and development this provides to their
children. But the change in these children's lives and the impact it will have
will be something others are able to witness with time. She encapsulates this
in her explanation “it lets the child grow”, portraying the arts as a means of
transformation.
The Changelooms program has also aided
Zeba's progress with this endeavor. In her own opinion, the biggest gain from
this program has been the people that she has met. Through meeting fellow
change-makers in her community she has not only been able to network, but also
gain broader insight into the change that others are enacting, and how they can
coordinate such efforts. To other aspiring change-makers hoping to follow a
similar trajectory, her words of wisdom are to “Just be open to the whole
journey” – to see where it takes you, and others with you.
Her ultimate dream is for children to be
appreciated for inherently what they're given. “Let the child grow, respect
yourself, respect the other person”, she imparts.
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