A despicable open secret, child labour in India still thrives even after the government and several other forums have tried to abolish it from the face of Indian life.
As a country, if we can’t begin to agree on fundamentals, such as the elimination of the most abusive forms of child labour, then we are really not ready to march forward into the future.
There are many organisations which have been trying to do their bit in controlling child labour and restore the victim’s life. One such organisation is The Bornfree School of Art. It is a special school for working, street and bonded labour children.
John Devraj, the founder and managing director of Bornfree school has dedicated his life to giving the street and bonded labor children, their childhood back.
Not only have they worked towards the uplift of these children but also teach them music, art, dance and theatre and help them adjust in society again.
Mioi Nakayama, the co-director and teacher of Bornfree School of Art uses art and dance as a therapy for these children to gain back their self-confidence.
“Many of these children have never been to school and they do not know how to read and write. Dance and other forms of art act as a therapy to these children to help them overcome their traumas.
Bornfree is all about giving love to these children and giving back to them their joy of childhood. ,” she said.
Recently, Bornfree School of Art screened their latest short film ‘Twins’, which was about a family who adopted a little girl from the village as a companion for their own daughter.
They rescue her from bonded labour and accept her as their own daughter giving her everything that they gave to their own daughter.
It was a touching story about how a child who had lost her childhood regains it only because of the love that was given to her.
“I have always wanted to do something for the street children but had never got a chance and now I have reached out to so many people with a message that will make them think,” said Mrs.
Florence Xavier, the mother of the two girls, Gabriella and Raphaella who even acted in the film as their mother.
The film also saw performances by other children and professional dance groups.
“Bornfree is open to every child and every school should be open to the idea of inviting us to perform for them to spread the message of love” said John Devraj as he commented on the show.
