Aalambana | HPC Weekend Meet | April 11, 2009
On 11th April, 2009 Hyderabad Photography Club had the opportunity to capture some adorable children on camera – and in the process, light up a few of their hours with laughter, wonderment and joy.
Aalambana is a Kukatpally-based NGO that extends education to slum children, and also supports their families by counseling them on healthcare and hygiene. Aalambana is led by the secretary Smt. Dasari Sireesha, and boasts of several dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers.
HPC proposed to visit Aalambana, snap pictures of the kids and the good work being done by the volunteers – and to extend support to the NGO by giving them our photos for use on their website and at their events. The project was taken up enthusiastically by several HPC members, Lazybug leading as the liaison with Aalambana and general organizer of the meet.
On the day, HPC members arrived one by one, to be pleasantly surprised by a school-full of wide-eyed kids who jumped with joy every time they saw one of their faces on the camera’s LCD. We spent some time outside the school, composing various candid shots of the kids and talking to them. The kids clustered around each HPC member and chortled gleefully as we showed them the photos we had taken.
Some of them had masks and propaganda cards from the ruling political party, and insisted that we take photos of them holding the cards, or wearing the masks. Whether they understood much about politics, they were still keyed in to who the masks depicted and yelled “YSR” to each other, thumping each other on the back.
Then we moved into the building and, as unobtrusively as possible, captured them studying, poring over books and interacting with their teachers.
What was remarkable about the school was the range of education offered to them. I wandered into a classroom where algebra was being taught – and beat a hasty retreat, because Math has always been my weakest subject! The youngest were learning numbers and basic arithmetic and language skills, while the older ones studied higher subjects with immense concentration and seriousness.
It was easy to forget that these kids were in any way underprivileged, as we 
joked with them and watched them make rough sketches of dolls and sceneries on their slates. But it was a harsh call to reality, when we were told that most of these kids would finish school early so that they could go to work as daily labourers in the evening. We also learnt that some of the volunteers had had to make rounds of the children’s homes, cajoling their parents to let them attend the school so they could avail basic education.
The kids themselves were happy and carefree – one of the girls had nothing in her schoolbag, which was also missing a functioning zipper in order to close properly. When we asked her about it, she airily responded that all she needed was her slate and she could learn all she wanted with it!
We then handed the cameras to the kids and had them take pictures instead – and this is when we realized that they were highly intelligent and quick on the uptake. They quickly learnt how to hold the camera, where to look to see the frame, what to click to capture the photo, and how to check what photo they had taken. They only needed to be shown once how to move out of the display mode on the LCD so they could take more pictures. Their joy was unparalleled as they began to scamper about the courtyard taking pictures of their friends and teachers and showing them off triumphantly.
Shortly before the school was to close for the day, all the kids gathered in the courtyard and sat quietly (some with fingers on their lips!) to allow us to take group shots of them. The HPC members also sat among the kids, throwing our arms up in jubilation along with the kids, for our very own group photo!
It was a rewarding experience for all of us – and a learning experience as well. Many of us have already shared our photos with the Aalambana organization, and most of us are planning to attend their fundraiser event on 25th April, to commemorate 50 years of Vividh Bharati. These are only little things that we can do to support the good cause that Aalambana champions, but none of us have walked away untouched or unaffected by the kids.
Attendees:
Nimesh (tia’s friend, non-HPC)
Sanjay and 3 others are discussing.
Pranav Yaddanapudi 12:44 pm on April 15, 2009 Permalink |
It was great spending time with those children. I think I am privileged to take wonderful pictures of the kids there. I wish this effort of HPC (contributing the pictures to Aalambana) will help them in a great way. Interestingly this is my first photowalk with HPC folks
$udhakar 12:48 pm on April 15, 2009 Permalink |
Nice write up. Good job folks
Prashanth B 4:35 pm on April 15, 2009 Permalink |
I was very impressed by the kids there. They should be helped more in their education.
-nikkormat prashanth
Prashanth B 4:38 pm on April 15, 2009 Permalink |
It should also be mentioned that the volunteers at aalambana are doing a great job right now, more help must be given to them in reaching out to the children.
Krishna Mohan Gorle 6:23 am on April 17, 2009 Permalink |
Thank you Prashanth. This is Krishna, core team at Aalambana.Glad you appreciate our effort. Please let other friends in your group know about Aalambana. We need a lot of support, volunteers and help in more than monetary means.
Sanjay 2:06 am on April 17, 2009 Permalink |
Tia
Appreciate your efforts in putting this post.
Krishna Mohan Gorle 6:24 am on April 17, 2009 Permalink |
A very nice narration. Linking this to Aalambana's website.
Balu 5:33 pm on June 8, 2009 Permalink |
Great job folks ! I've been to Aalambana some good 5-6 years ago and nice to it going strong !
Good luck !