MY CREATIONS IN CLAY !

An article on Dream a Little Dream and how I started it  on blog post A Biscuit called Freedom
http://abiscuitcalledfreedom.org/tag/reena-chowdhury/

 Let Us Dream a Little Dream 

Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.
- Mother Teresa

Reena, believed in Mother Teresa’s quote right from the start. Especially when she saw street children vying for attention at traffic signals. She noticed that it wasn’t always money that the children wanted; rather a smile or a funny face would have them burst into laughter. And there, in that moment, they would cease to be just ragamuffins on the street, their eyes speaking a thousand words, shining with laughter. Money was easy to give she realized. It was love that these children had so desperately craved for; after all they were just children.

Hers is an example that defines the thin line between ordinary and extraordinary. The line being the courage to practice what one believes in. Reena is yet another professional working for an IT company in Bangalore. She is one among us but her dreams get the better of her. She believed in uplifting the livelihood of street children and often contemplated on the best way to touch their lives. Finally in 2010 she had the answer; bringing two of the biggest elements of her life together, love for children and love for art.
The same year she laid the foundation of her initiative calling it, Dream a little Dream. It would collaborate with other NGOs and organize art camps. And these camps would give children the outlet to express their dreams through the medium of art.
DALD soon tied up with India Literacy Project (ILP) as part of their collaborations. ILP did more than just collaborate; it rendered its full support to the young organization. And, so they set sail with the dreams of the younglings powering the sails.

Dream a little Dream has already organized five art camps across Bangalore. At these camps children come together to paint and have a fun time, dance and sing. She intends to take this one step further and identify talented artists from among them and give them expert coaching / training – funds being a crucial element in realizing this dream.

Her ultimate vision for these gifted children is to be able to admit them to art institutions where their talent can be suitably nurtured.

She told us that every Camp begins with a question to the children. “When do youdream?” In unison they say, at night. She then asks them why not during the day? This question is usually met with giggles. She then asks them to draw their little dreams. The best part of the camp, she says, is when the dreams are put down on paper. It is almost surreal. Some draw a picture of Dhoni holding a cricket bat, except Dhoni’s face is replaced by their own.Some draw a class full of children stating they want to become teachers. Some draw themselves as singers and actors performing on stage.

These paintings and the glint in their eyes, Reena says, is her little dream which comes true at every art camp she organizes. We applaud Reena Chowdhury for teaching us that people who do extraordinary things are always one among us. It takes at lot to look at these street children and see future sportsmen, teachers, singers and actors. You have taught us to do just that, to dream a little dream… Bravo!