It's a cruel irony that the things that they enjoy the most are objects whose strings are pulled as independently of their will as the fates of these children were decided. But in these things we humans have only a point of view. The One with the powers of amelioration has His own ways of reasoning, so we do the best that we can. Entertain them in ways like this.
The Hyderabad Puppet Theater in association with Vooyala Communications and the Hyderabad City Granthalaya Samstha is organizing 'Mento Puppet 2001', a workshop and free training in educational puppetry for teachers dealing with mentally challenged students.
Teachers and mentally challenged children will be imparted training in the making of educational puppets with waste material, which can be used as educational aids for the children. Around 50 schools were sent invitations to take part in this workshop. Each school will have to sponsor 2 students and a teacher from their school.
The organizers feel that this workshop is unique, in the sense that nothing like this has been attempted here in the past. Prominent personalities from various fields have been invited to speak on topics related to the workshop on all days.
G Subbarayan, secretary of the Andhra Mahila Sabha Literary House, will speak on educational puppetry; C V Ramana of Vooyala will speak on the development of communication skills through puppetry; Shyama, Principal of the New Don Bosco School for Mentally Retarded Children, will speak on experimental teaching to mentally retarded children; and Dr Pushpa, Coordinator of the A P chapter of PEAS, will speak on environmental education through puppetry.
To entertain and educate mentally retarded children in between the workshop, a lot of events are scheduled as below:
- Talking doll - ventriloquism by Mimicry Srinivas
- Shadow play by K Krishna Murthy
- Katputli (spring puppet show) by Hanmanth Rao, puppeteer and dance director
- Rod And Glow - puppet show by M Rajya Laxmi
- Wooden and shadow puppet show by M Srinivas Rao
- Music and dance therapy through puppetry by Kalyani, faculty
M Srinivasa Rao, who has been trained in puppetry at the Kolkata Puppet Theater, will coordinate this workshop.
Every participant will get a participation certificate and a chance to participate in the painting competition to be held on the first day. The organizers will provide the required material. Participation is free at this workshop. The items made at this workshop along with the students' drawings will be displayed at the venue's huge library hall.
Please contact the City Central Library at 763-7632/658-1818 for further details.
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