CHENNAI: When Kadambari, Divya and Indira — three alumni of Lady Andal School — met after a brief period, one thing led to another and the idea of giving back to society materialised into Kairassi, a non-profit organisation that provides a platform for artists with disabilities to showcase their works online.
Indira, a psychology graduate recalls, “I’ve always wanted to work with kids and that’s when I met Kadambari. She’s a licensed psychologist who trained in Vidyasagar. And then Divya came on board. We all had the same vision: to do something for kids and adults with disabilities through art
and art therapy.”
After discussing and brainstorming ideas, Divya says “everything just fell into place. I am a lawyer and I wanted to work in the legal space through art,” she smiles. “And Kadambari was also looking to start something that will benefit people. So, our ideas fit perfectly and we were eager to start this forum as soon as possible!”
The online platform, Kairassi, has been live for over a month, but the founders say that they have been working on the structure since October 2016. “Initially, it was difficult for us to approach people as they wanted to know about our experience and credibility. Gradually, we found artists whose works could be displayed online, so that they could network with buyers and so on."
They also offer workshops that help kids with disabilities develop creative talent. “We have two key initiatives: the shop art project and the Kairassi workshops, which provide mentoring to children with disabilities so that they can benefit from art — through drama, art and dance therapy,” shares Divya.
Having already sold a few art pieces by the disabled through their forum, they say, “The response has so far been good. Since it’s a new forum, we are taking it slow. But, we soon want to spread it across cities, with city chapters. We will give 90% of the proceeds to the artist, while the remaining will be used for workshops and campaigns.”
Kairassi has tied up with Deepam Special School, Kilpauk, and conducts a weekly workshop for children. “The workshops are divided into six sessions and it’s focused on finding hidden talents of children and also, mentor them. If they don’t like to paint, we don’t force them; rather, we want to develop skills that they already have and like working on,” clarifies Indira.
With support from friends and family, the trio plans to tie up with galleries and artists. “If these artists agree, they can spend time with these kids to mentor them. Similarly, we have talks with Arunodhayam’s Vocational Center. Among the many things they do, their hand-stitched notebooks are popular and we are looking to print our art pieces on the cover of the notebooks. This will be another source of income for these artists,” explains Divya.
Constantly looking for people who connect with their cause, Kadambari says, “We would like to take volunteers and interns on board if they are willing to work for the cause. But, remember, you need to connect to the cause. We are also planning our first event in April and are working towards it,” she adds.
For details, visit:kairassi.com