Visit to Sarsuna Girls School
Nothing is unusual about catching a Saturday afternoon movie. Waiting for friends before the movie is pretty normal too. But what if the movie show is a specially organized one and the “friends” are the aunties from Anavi? That is what the kids from Sarsuna school had in store for them this Saturday afternoon.
Anavi has been associated with Sarsuna School from a long time and each of the visits is eagerly awaited by the kids because of the surprise and fun element in store for them, this was no different. We reached the school at quarter past two in the afternoon but the eager smiles on their faces told us that they had been waiting since morning.
Setting up the equipment took some time and in the meanwhile Ms Punna Chowdhury( fondly called Punna Di), who has been associated with this institute since 1983, told us about the founder, Lt. Pratima Roy, and how this institute came about .
Thanks to the professional expertise the screen, player and sound systems were set up pretty fast and it was time for the show to begin. But movie watching would be incomplete without something to munch on. We distributed packs of chips and biscuits among the kids. Their graciously accepting the gifts with both hands ,their smiles and thanks you’s makes us believe that the elders looking after the kids are doing their best with their limited resources and makes our effort all the more worthwhile.
Children like competition – so what better way to spread the message of environmental conservation – we asked the kids to make groups among themselves and look after the growth of young plants in their yard – on our next visit the group with the best plant would get a prize. The buzz of excitement at this announcement was hard to miss.
But that is for the next visit – the show was getting late – movie was selected after asking the kids and finally we rounded upon a film made by the children’s film institute. Sports is always a hit with the kids and the movie had a similar theme of an underdog overcoming the odds to be the best. Something the kids could easily identify with.
The film show was possible courtesy Mrs. Shipra Raha, Mr.Partho Raha and Dipanjan Dutta from Mini movies, who spent their valuable time with us and provided us with all the equipment. Our most sincere thanks to them for helping us with our initiative.
Peals of laughter in between and a thunderous applause at the end, it was time to go. Another Saturday well spent by the Anavi members, but it was the smiles on the kids’ faces that assured us that we made a good investment of time and it was one afternoon they are not going to forget very soon.
