Rebuilding Hearts

One year after the devastating earthquake, much of the Nepali population is still dealing with the after-effects. Although the earthquake has caused so much damage, it has been morally uplifting to see the global community unite in solidarity for one cause – to help Nepal rise again. There has been a steady rebuilding but a lot still remains to be done.

On April 25th, 2016, exactly a year later, I departed for a village in Nuwakot District with Bato Ko Cinema project for screening in collaboration with All Hands Volunteer Nepal and some art activities along with Sattya Media Arts Collective’s team. Our objective was to entertain school kids of “Jalapa Yuwa Prathamik Vidyalaya” with an art session followed by a movie screening.  The events that followed upon our arrival in the village were surreal – the kids really took to painting and explored their creativity with colors.  It felt truly amazing to be a part of the painting session. The movie screening session attracted not just the kids but adults as well. We had not expected a turn out such a this and it was an overwhelming experience for all of us. Any doubts we might have had about the effectiveness of the sessions were wiped off the table by the zeal and excitement shown by the kids and adults alike.

In the end, as I sit down and try and put together my experience in words, I realize on that day we were out there, rebuilding hearts.

Courtesy: Sazeena Nemkul

Photo Courtesy: Bato Ko Cinema