In partnership with Forbes Marshall CSR Initiatives, Team Saturday Art Class visited the Savardari and Wasuli villages in Chakan district, Pune in the last week of October to conduct fun-filled, colorful, and eco-friendly Diwali workshops with students belonging to the villages.

On DAY 1, we engaged students in meaningful discussions about the harmful effects of celebrating Diwali using firecrackers. Together, we brainstormed on steps to celebrate the festival in an eco-friendly manner leading each student to paint diyas in which they sowed seeds, labeled their diyas with their names, and made a promise to take care of their seeded diyas that would soon grow into healthy, green plants.  

On DAY 2, we conducted two sessions exposing students to the art of lantern-making with a lot of inspiration gathered from famous modern artists like Akbar Padamsee and Yayoi Kusama. With the goal of giving back to nature this Diwali, students appreciated things they found beautiful in their village surroundings and incorporated them into the lanterns they created. 

On DAY 3, we conducted Teacher Trainings for paraeducators who work and support the children in the Savardari and Wasuli villages through non-profit organizations- Urmee and Yojak (also supported by Forbes Marshall CSR Initiatives). We kickstarted the training with a quick art activity, where teachers painted portraits of themselves inspired by modern artist Coco Davez followed by shedding light on the importance of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and art; further encouraging teachers to create and implement their own modules based on Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) within their own classrooms.

Click here to watch some beautiful moments captured during our time in the villages