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Children's Collectives
Institutionalizing the concept of Children's participation and that
Children need to have their own space is not easy. In the first year
of our work, although we spoke and discussed about Children having a
right to freedom of expression when it came to actual implementation,
we somehow forgot about it or perhaps did not take it seriously, until
it was brought home to us by Children. It happened in October 1988. As
a team we were barely five persons. Diwali festival was approaching
and generally there was a festive look and atmosphere in the city. The
street educators decided that we must celebrate Diwali by gathering
all Children at Central Park in the heart of the city and have fire
works and a feast of sweets. The street educators called a meeting of
Children and having decided the activity they informed all the
Children about their decision and asked for their approval. In
Butterflies nothing is given free, Children contribute for everything.
Therefore, a group of Children questioned the decision of the street
educators of wanting to celebrate Diwali by fire crackers and sweets,
according to them it was a waste of money. They told the street
educators they would rather save that money to buy sweaters and woolen
clothes as winter was fast approaching rather than waste it on
firecrackers. Their decision prevailed.
This incident is what gave birth to the concept of Bal Sabha
(Children's Council). It has proved to be the single most important
key to sustain and develop Children's participation, thereby
empowering them.
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