By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 13: On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC), Plan International Nepal has organised “Art is Power”, an event that links word art of young girls and boys to visual art created by artists in response to the word art.
A total of 250 young people, including 214 girls from seven districts -- Sunsari, Sindhuli, Makwanpur, Banke, Bardiya, Jumla and Kalikot -- participated in the Virtual Art Workshop.
Young people aged under 18 years were oriented to create art through different means such as poetry, storytelling, song, writing, and comics.
The event aimed at providing opportunity for marginalized girls and boys to express their voices and concerns to decision makers.
Liz Satow, Country Director of Plan International Nepal, said, “As part of our global campaign, we have organised virtual event to create space for young people, especially girls, to raise their voices through the medium of art.”
The voices of the young people will also be a reminder to the government to increase their commitment to children’s rights and equality for girls, said Satow.
This is the second consecutive year the “Art is Power” has been organised. This year, as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, Plan International in collaboration with “Kaalo 101” had to organise it virtually.
“Though I have been deprived of extra activities at the time of COVID-19 pandemic, I am really happy that I had the opportunity to learn to express my feeling through the medium of art,” said Rojina Adhikari, a participant from Makwanpur.
A total of 11 artists, including five canvas artists, worked with young boys and girls to enhance their skills on expressing themselves through the medium of art.
Shuvangi Khadka, an artist, who facilitated the virtual session for girls from Sindhuli, said: “The workshop focused on narrative writing and the power of storytelling. Through the elements used in the workshop, the participants were able to think for themselves on power structure that exists in their families and society.”
The artistic outcome will be virtually exhibited after November 25 during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The Art is Power is organised in Nepal under “Girls Get Equal” campaign of Plan International which demands equal power, freedom and representation.
The Campaign was launched in Nepal on March 8, 2019 and it has engaged girls and boys for supporting girls’ movement and gender equality in Nepal.