Many thanks to Abdul Hassan Rubel, Executive Director and Principal, Amader Pathshala, Dhaka, Bangladesh, for giving me the space and time to work with the children of the school. Lastly, massive appreciation to Ms. Jarin Shetu for assisting me throughout the workshop. 

Amader Pathshala School is a social initiative for quality education of underprivileged children aged 4-16 years. It aims to deliver education, appropriate to their socio-economic condition and cultural background. They focus on creating lessons that interest the youth population. It also aims to support them in finding avenues to continue their studies. The initiative is privately funded, and the donations are used directly for the students' education.

I designed, implemented, and conducted a one-day workshop that was rotated between three classes simultaneously due to space limitations. The workshop concentrated on the theme of 'happiness' – something that the children witnessed in their lives or would foresee for themselves. There were three groups of students from Grade 4-8 simultaneously given the task to draw what they considered 'happy' in their lives. Some warm-up exercises were initially directed to bring focus to the group and provide them a common ground in generating one's awareness and capacity to appreciate rhythm and movement. It was also positioned to create a grounding space for them to get in touch with their artistic abilities.

Many students produced incredible drawings showing their homes, gardens, friends, and people most important to them. Children of such age were filled with pure innocence. I find rural societies to have more expressivity than urban populations. Honesty gained from their drawings made me enter their soulful territories and perceive their true identities.  

I am truly blessed to have been conducting such workshops in different places as it brings me closer to humanity and nature.