Improving school environment through plays
-
20/06/2008
-
Kathmandu Post (Nepal)
The Environmental Camps for Conservation Awareness (ECCA-Nepal), along with the Team for Nature and Wildlife (TNW) theater group is running a drama called "Drishaya-Aadrishya,' on the theme "Think about School Environment,' from June 20 to 22 at Gurukul Theater at Baneshwor, Kathmandu. The play, which was mostly performed by young, blooming actors and actresses from the Himalayan Theatre Group and Mahalaxmi Childern's Group, tried to shed light on poor conditions in mostly rural, but also urban school environments. For example, poor drinking water, improper toilet and sanitation practices, and infrastructure as a whole in specifically junior classrooms. "We put on different shows around Nepal, and also put the ideas we show in the plays to emulate in life, like better toilets and drinking water,' said Sushil Anu, ECCA Program Officer. ECCA is a non-profit international organization that runs on donations and volunteer help. High school dropouts are often another problem in schools. These are just some issues that may lead to a higher illiteracy of Nepal. The drama was targeted towards students and teachers mainly to think about their own school environments, but also hopes to reach government authorities as well, to hopefully put these positive ideas into practice. The hour and a half long performance was set in a rural school in a Nepali village, which showed unfortunately common struggles many students encounter. Coming from underprivileged families, having unclean drinking water and meager school supplies, including books, are some main problems the play showed, but acted out in a fun and humorous way. The show was directed jointly by JB Ruwali and Rabindra Singh Baniya.