Born to be Free

John Devaraj~An amazing Indian by Times Now

2011-09-10T15:22:00.000+05:30

John Devaraj, Founder, Born Free Art School in BangaloreVideo Link: http://www.timesnow.tv/Amazing-Indians-Labour-of-love/videoshow/4383023.cms

There are 217 million working children in the world, 134 million of which live and word in India.

The Bornfree Art School is a special school created exclusively for street,
working children and freed bonded labor children. The objective is to educate
and develop these children through the arts, putting them back into the main
stream of education.

Children learn sculpture, painting, dance, music,
theater, photography and filmmaking along with reading, writing, and mathematics.
Education through entertainment and the sharing of knowledge are the core
aspects of learning.

Art is a therapeutic means for children from such difficult
backgrounds to express themselves freely, regain the confidence and self
respect as well as to generate interest in education.

See John's amazing profile: http://www.bornfreeart.org/John/index.html

I hope you will also share this info to all your friends/relatives
and inspire them to do some good work for others around us.

Heiwa Zou Resha Japan Tour 2011

2011-08-30T08:20:00.001+05:30

Bornfree Art School was invited to perform Heiwa Zou Resha for the month of August 2011 in six cities; Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo with a thousand people awaiting our shows. It was such a tremendous response from the people in Japan. This was a year-long plan to invite artists from India, who would deliver the message of peace and children of India through Heiwa Zou Resha. On behalf of the Bornfree, John Devaraj, Anand Dhanakoti, Ramachandran S, Saravana D, and Pia B were performers and facilitators for the workshops. They represented India on the day of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Bombings ( 6th and 9th of Aug), trained Japanese children on the issue of Sadako, Kempo Kyujo, and animals' rights. John had lectured regarding the issue of peace and children's rights. We were also able to conduct a workshop for children who are mentally abused backgrounds and suffering from personal problems. They enjoyed our workshops thoroughly and their minds and bodies became liberated. Bornfree made a huge impact on young people in terms of issues; many participants said that they, Indians thought us about Atomic Bombing and Sadako.There were young people who dance on Article 9, Kempo Kyujo of the Japanese constitution. Saravana and Ram want to pursue peace studies in Hiroshima soon as well. Anand said this time he could deepen his thoughts about peace and were able to understand many issues from the historical and political points of views. Pia has enriched her experiences of working with kids and also got educated in peace issues. John has come up with a new idea to set up a peace museum in Bangalore. Bornfree can play a vital role further in contributing to make Indian society free from the violence and war. You can log on to the photos; https://picasaweb.google.com/112988018918182260579/HeiwaZouReshaTOKYOPerformance
Details more about Sadako; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadako_Sasaki
Kempo Kyujo; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution

Heiwa Zou Resha Rehearsal on!

2011-06-19T23:52:00.002+05:30

Hi. We have been working on the new production called Heiwa Zou Resha and we want you to be a part of it! Please email or call us; we want actors, dancers, costumers, puppeteers, properteers, stage managers, light operators, back stage masters, etc. You will be working with children from the streets and working on the issue of peace and children's power. We will be scheduling the show on the 9th and 10th of July in Chennai and 19th of July in Bangalore. We are very happy to have you in this production and you will be definitely enjoying the process of making our dream possible. You can find more details at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N8L0Tw4wbxyDtH2B6GALobjcDEkx1KJjMIkR_phVHzs/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1

Celebration of the 122nd Birthday of Charlie Chaplin~the most famous working child

2011-04-11T23:13:00.001+05:30

The Bornfree Art School Theater is a Chaplinisque Theater. It is inspired by the History, Philosophy acting style and genius skills of the great master. Chaplin himself homeless at twelve a working child, contributed to the world through laughter and humour understanding poverty, destitution , hunger, humanism without even uttering a word.

The Bornfree has created "Che Che", short films on child labour in Charplinisque way. There are three episodes; Bonda Boy, a battle of child hotel workers, Mane Bootha about domestic child labourers, and Ragged Dancers about child ragpickers. Each is 20 minute-long.

This event will open with a dance piece of "Smile", one kind of the song that Chaplin composed in his life and used in "the Modern Times", later it became very famous because lyrics were added by Nat Cole King and sung by him and Michael Jackson. There will be theater pieces acted by Bornfree ; Boxing, Kid, and The Emperor from Chaplin's famous movies.

Please come and celebrate his birthday with laughter.
Details; https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F9zLaGjpazhQKkud42gKU3jVisNv0XHL2bdSIaOYtks/edit?hl=en#

Bornfree Art School

Inspired by the most popular street kid

Charlie Chaplin

celebrates the maestro 122nd birthday

with new form performances of mime and dance and film

on 16th April 2011 at 10 am

Art 9 KH Kala Soudha, Ramanjenaya Temple Compound, Hanumanthnagar, Bangalore

on 17th April 2011 at 4 30pm

Alliance Francaise, Millers tank bund road, Bangalore, Bangalore

Event details

The Boxing ring , mime 5mins

Che Che film Mane Bootha, 18 mins

The Kid mime 3mins,

intermission

Smile Mime and dance 5mins

Che Che Bond Boy 26 mins

I dont want to be an Emperor, Chaplin's speech in the Great Dictator 3mins

To remember Japan Tsunami ~ From India with love

2011-04-06T23:51:00.002+05:30

The Bornfree Art School has staged "Shiroi Hana" on the 27th March 2011 for fundrasing for tsunami victims of Japan. Within the short period of practice time and with new dancers and actors, we were able to stage Shiroi Hana-White Flower, which is about the Hiroshima atomic bombing. With an audience of about 200, along with the Team Peace Challenger, the Bornfree has raised funds and issue of atomic bombing through the theater on the day of the World Theater Day. 11 Japanese women who visited us have shared their real experiences when the earthquake hit their areas. Maki said that "When i was at home, i felt the biggest earthquake in my life and i was always told to hide under the table when such thing happens. But i had a second thought of outside is safer than inside or vice versa." The voices of the Japanese reached the audience, which touched their hearts.

Dr. Cheeranjivi Sighn as a chief guest has inaugurated "I AM HOMELESS" and "Art for Japan" exhibited by John Devaraj. He has been photographing the homeless in such as Japan, Chez
Republic, Germany and India. His exhibition is also dedicated to the tsunami victims.

You can find out more about us in E-paper;
The Indian Express; http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/city-art-school-raises-funds-for-japan-victims/260285.html
DNA; http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_quake-failed-to-rattle-japanese-resilience_1525294
The Hindu; http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/13/stories/2011031362270300.htm

Photo Album; http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=1223436966&aid=2117146

Shiroi Hana and Art for Japan~27th March 2011

2011-03-23T09:35:00.000+05:30

22^nd March 2011

Shiroi Hana [White Flowers] and Art for Japan

Performance dedicated for Japan tsunami relief by the Bornfree Art School

The March 11^th Earthquake and Tsunami has counted a death toll of 8928 according to the Japanese Police as is today. The number of the missing is up to 12,000. A total 3,19,000 people have taken refuge in 2,100 evacuation centers in 16 prefectures since more than 3 lahks housings were completely destroyed. 23,000 people were forced to evacuate from the threat of radioactive fallout from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

The Bornfree Art School will be performing Shiroi Hana (White Flower), 25 minute dance-theater about Hiroshima-Nagasaki atomic bombing, for the remembrance of tsunami tragedy in Japan. The Bornfree is a special school and performing group of artists which dedicate for the cause of working and street children. In 2008, the Bornfree had travelled to Japan and performed in Fukushima, Chiba and Tokyo, the earthquake hit areas. The school has been interacting with more than 5000 Japanese people and supported so far and we firmly believe that it is time for us to show our solidarity.

Shiroi Hana~

Shiroi Hana was performed in the first Global conference for the Article 9, aiming to an abolition of armies in Tokyo in 2008. This production has been performed all over in India for the occasion of Peacebycycle, a peace cycle rally from Bangalore to the Wagha Border for the friendship of India and Pakistan.

We are performing on the occasion of World’s Theater Day on the 27^th of March 2011 at 4 pm at the Kala Soudha, Hannumanthnagar. Eleven Japanese women from the Team Peace Challenger will be visiting us and witnessing this occasion. They will report us the latest situation of the victims. We are aiming to collect money, blankets and clothes for the victims. The TPC will take a responsibility to reach money and things to the victims safely.

Titile; Shiroi Hana~White Flowers (25 minutes)

Time; 27^th March 2011 at 6pm, Kala Soudha, Hannumanthnagar ( near Anjayanappa Temple / Ramakrishana Ashram)

Script, Direction, Music and Film; John Devaraj

Choreography; Mioi Nakayama, Reshma Ravikanth, Anand Dhanakoti

I’m Homeless and Art for Japan~ Exhibition

John Devaraj, the Artistic Director of the Bornfree will be opening the gallery by the photographic and painting exhibition “I’m Homeless and Art for Japan” dedicated to tsunami victims for this occasion. I’m HOMELESS is the photographic exhibition of homeless across Japan, Cambodia, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic and India. Art for Japan is a series of paintings as a response to the Japan Tsunami to raise hope, relief and reconstruction. The inauguration will be at 4pm at the basement of K H Kalasoudha. All contributions will be handed over to them to forward it to the relief operations underway.

We are looking forward to your presence and contribution. Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

John Devaraj Mioi Nakayama

The Bornfree Art School

21, 2^nd Cross, GH Layout, 3^rd Block East Jayanagar Bangalore 560011

Ph;9886306366 / 9886011830

johndevaraj@gmail.com, mioinakayama@bornfreeart.org

In solidarity

2011-03-13T20:48:00.003+05:30

Dear Friends,

People of India have been showing consoles and solidarity for the victims of Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan. Yesterday the Bornfree Art School had organized the candle night to show solidarity for them. We were reported in every newspaper and tv.

The Bornfree Art School had performed in Tokyo, Chiba and Fukushima in the year of 2008 for the occasion of Article 9 Peace conference. We have been supported by the tremendous number of Japanese people around 5000, therefore, we feel it very essential and necessary to show solidarity and remember this tragedy. We pray for those who are victimized. We hope Japan will recover as soon as possible and see the strengthen of the people.

Heiwa Zou Resha~Call for Artists and organizers

2011-01-20T15:54:00.001+05:30

Heiwa Zou Resha {Peace Elephant Train}

Director; John Devaraj

Set in the beginning of the Second World War, it is about the plight of the zoo animals that have no way of protesting against an unnecessary war. When bombs are falling on Japan and there is no food for people. The Curator of the Nagoya Zoo is pleading for food for his animals in the Zoo. Instead of getting supplies, he is asked to shoot down the animals. He is questioned ‘Who is more important, human beings or animals? Indeed this is such a diabolical question. The lion, bears and cheetah are shot dead, two elephants die of starvation; and the curator is struggling to save the last two elephants. In 1945, two atomic bombs were thrown on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan was completely destroyed.

During the democratization process, thousands of children from Tokyo and all over Japan are asking for the elephants to be brought to their cities; which is impossible. The railway authorities respond by introducing a special train, from Tokyo to Nagoya called the Elephant train.

From India with love

Jawaharlal Nehru the then prime minister of India heard about this story and made a magnanimous gift to the children of Japan. He gave a baby Elephant, Indira as a present who walked the earth on the side of Japan for many years. Children of Asia will walk with India to Japan with the Heiwa Zou Resha………

Highlights of the Show;

1. Wars and Children; Children are the first victims of war followed by women. There are 134 million working children in India. Every tenth Indian is a working child. Everything we use in our daily lives are products of child labour. India will surge forward only when we can spend all the money spent on defense towards education.

The narrative will also follow a chronology of events before, during and after the war bringing it to the contemporary world of nuclear wars and offer the Kempo Kyujo as the solution.

2. Mother Nature; the story has a direct link to zoos and the protection of wild life in the wild and zoological gardens. It is very compelling and seeks the urgent sensitization of the world on the very delicate balance of life and the saving of endangered species The Tiger foremost now reduced to 1114 in India!

3. Fantasy~Dance-theater in the fusion styles; this fantastic musical~ballet~ mime, and puppet theater about animals, mother earth war, peace, and need to protect our children will be performed in a circus~dance form with high energy. HZR encompasses high fantasy images, vibrant music, giant puppets, and a whole lot of fun involving the audiences. It will be put into lyrics and use every contemporary musical style combining modern rap, jazz, blues and heady reggae, using African, Indian drums, Zamponia, Andean flutes. The dance form will be contemporary, ballet, jazz, using elements of Kalaripayattu, Indian traditional martial art form, samba, native American dance forms.

Produced by the Bornfree Art School

The Bornfree Art School is a special school for working, street and bonded labour children. It aims to bring children of the streets back to the main stream of education and society through learning dance, music, theater, sculpting, painting, and film-making. The Bornfree is a social movement and has been producing a culture of liberation of children since 2005. 15 children has documented photographic proof of child labour rampant in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa in 2006. Photographs were submitted and discussed suo moto case to the United Nations and the Minister of Labour, Government of India in the parliament. The Bornfree also has been wokring on peace issues in order to bring out peace and friendship between India and Pakistan. The World Largest Love Letter ( as huge as the Chinaswamy Cricket stadium) written and painted by John Devaraj and children of the Bornfree had travelled all over India and crossed the Wagha Border. 100 million children of both countries had signed. In 2008, 35 members have achieved the Peacebycycle, 3000km-historic peace rally from Bangalore to the Wagha Border. We have collected 7000 peace and friendship letters from children of India to children of Pakistan. The school has been performing theatrical pieces about the issue of working children, peace, gender discrimination etc. Please look at www.bornfreeart.org and bornfreeart.blogspot.com

We want to raise the question of peace through fun and fantasy without even words. It will become a popular show as it involves animals and critical questions are raised through animals and fun.

Performance

by former working, street and bonded labour children

We are training children who come from the streets and working backgrounds, orphanage children and they are the main actors and dancers in the show.

Call for Artists and Organizers

Heiwa Zou Resha has to be supported, organized and performed by artists, students, and well-wishers. For the production, we need

1. Actors

2. Dancers; can dance in any style

3. Choreographers; can choreograph dance pieces

4. Musicians; who can perform lively at the show

5. Costumers; costume design and manage costumes during the show

6. Properteers; manage properties of the performance during the show

7. Mask-Makers / Puppeteers

8. Photographers; who can document the process and the show

9. Backstage Supporters

10. Coordinators; who can coordinate with artists and various children’s organizations

11. Technicians ( Sound and Lights)

12. Fundraisers; who can approach cooperates and individuals

Heiwa Zou Resha Tentative Schedule

Ø October 2010~January 2011; Creation of Music / Recording

Ø Rehearsal;

Monday to Sunday; At National College, Jayangar 6:30~8:30 pm ( Adults’ and Children’s sections)

Tuesday and Saturday; At Diviya Shanthi, Lingalargipuram 4:30~6:00 pm ( Children’s sections only)

Ø Puppet-Making; at the Bornfree Studio, Narayan Nagar, off Kanakapura Rd

Ø April; Intensive Trainings for artists

Ø May; the 1^st Show in Bangalore, Chennai and other cities

Ø August; Performance at Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and other 5 cities of Japan

Budget

		Particular	Details	Rs.
1	Production Cost	music recording	music studio rental (3 days )	50000
2		music recording	Editing Charge; 10 days	30000
3		music CD making ( incl. labeling, printing )	1000 copies	30000
4		Video DVD with the cover and printing	1000 copies	50000
5		Costumes	materials, stitching, designing charges, costumes guard robes, boxes ; 73 kinds of costumes ( approx.Rs.1000 per costume )	50000
6		Masks	rubber masks; Nos.50 X 2000	100000
7		property making	material cost, design and making cost etc	80000
8		music system	speaker, DVD player	7000
9	Rehearsal	rental charge	place rental charge Rs.100 X 100 days	10000
10	Rehearsal	refreshments	30 people X 90 days X Rs.20	54000
11	Publicity	Book making	1000 copies, color, laminated	50000
12		poster printing	1000 copies, color	20000
13		flier printing	2000 copies	15000
14		Banner		10000
15	Logistics	transportation	bus pass / petrol ; Rs.50 X 30 X 100 days	150000
16		communication	Rs. 7000 X 3 months	21000
17		Coordinator	Rs.10,000 X 5 months	50000
18		Miscellaneous		3000
	TOTAL			780000

We request you to support the Heiwa Zou Resha, which will result in liberating children from toil. We request you to bring like-mind friends and families to make this production successful.

John Devaraj

Artistic Director

Bornfree Art School

Ph; 9886306366, 9886011830

www.bornfreeart.org

bornfreeart.blogspot.com

Heiwa Zou Resha~Peace Elephant Train Commenced!

2010-12-21T19:36:00.002+05:30

ZOU RESHA-Elephant Train has started chugging ! It is a new theatrical dance production by the Bornfree Art School. It is based on the true story about the preciousness of animals's lives and peace during and after the Second World War in Japan and India.

In 1938, the four elephants were shifted to the Nagoya Zoo from Kinoshita Circus and they were so famous for performing in the zoo. By the time, Japan had started to occupy the Asian countries whereas the lives for the people were also under the threat by the bombing by the US Army. The Zoos were ordered to kill animals especially, ferocious ones like bears, cheetahs and elephants. Animals also had less amount of food and day by day the tension between the Army and Zoo rose up. The curator, Mr. Kitao tried to steal food for the army horses for the dear elephants. At the end of August 1945, after the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan was destroyed completely.

The process of democratization, Japan had children's parliaments everywhere. Children of Tokyo had voiced that they wanted an elephant in the Tokyo Zoo! They learnt that they can see two elephants who survived in the wartime are still living in Nagoya. So, they went and pleaded to give them an elephant! But the elephant was too weak and thin to be shifted! One of children cried out....

The officials of Japan Railway got to know that children of Tokyo wanted to see an elephant, so they had arranged the express special train called "The Elephant Train"!

The then Prime Minister, Nehru got to know that children of Japan wanted an elephant having seen letters written by them. Nehru said, "Let's gift a baby elephant, and she shall be called Indira"! Two curators from Mysore had accompanied along with a baby elephant to Japan. On the way, children of Asia traveled with Indira and got on the Peace Elephant Train....

Bornfree Art School will present "Zou Resha-Elephant Train" in February 2011. It will be the puppet show with the style of contemporary dance, jazz, ballet, Indian classical dance and kalaripayattu (Indian martial arts) combined with gymnastic techniques performed by the professional and amatuer dancers, musicians, street and working children.

This is a collaborative production with Aichi Chorus for Children's Happiness and Peace, Nagoya. Mr. Fujimura and Ms. Yamaguchi along with other three members had visited us and helped John Devaraj conceptualize the Zou Resha in November 2010. Today it is the 1st day of music recording where more than 20 musicians have gathered.

We have musicians whose names are; John Devaraj, Iva from Chez Republic, Shilpa Kothakota, Arun Shiva G, Maria Ralph D, Ramachandran S, D. Charles, Steffie S.M.G, Alan B Rego, Endilong Longlongkumer, S. Sreejith, 5 children from the Bornfree.

We are looking forward to taking this production forward all over in India, Japan and Europe. Photos; http://picasaweb.google.com/bornfreeart/ZouResha#

Screening at Suchitra Film Society~18th December 2010

2010-12-09T13:02:00.000+05:30

The Bornfree Art School

in Collaboration with

Suchitra Film Society and Suchitra Balajagat

presents

Ananda ~ an Ode to Joy Haaku Lagge ~Santhoskakke
on Saturday the 18^th December 2010, at 3 pm

at the Suchitra Film Society,

36 BV Karanth Road,9^th main, Banashankari, 2^nd stage, Bangalore

Looking forward to your participation in taking the campaign forward.

Ananda~ an Ode to joy,

Directed by John Devaraj is a full length Kannada feature film produced and performed by freed working children of the Bornfree Art School. It profiles the lives of 20 children with over 500 child actors in it. A hundred birds and animals have lent their voices to create Ananda. The film has been shot in guerrilla style combining documentary and reenacting personal histories. Ananda raises a critical question of the issue of 134 million working children in India. Poverty and Illiteracy directly related to the defense and military expenses of India. Do we need the ‘Ahimsa’ of Mahatma Gandhi or the ‘Himsa’ of a war culture? Does India needs Pens or Guns?
‘Ananda’ is aimed at the children and youth, as those who will bring about the urgently needed social transformation to produce a culture of peace against the dominant war culture of the world, which shamelessly toils 246 million children.

Children's Ode to Joy~the First Screening in India

2010-11-18T22:45:00.001+05:30

One day before Children's Day, Ananda~an ode to joy has been released in India, having awaited eagerly. It was one-year long work by John Devaraj, who has directed the future film, focusing on peace and war culture through the issue of child labour. The 20 Bornfree kids have enacted their own life history. Above 30 media has come to report about the film and voice out their experiences. Many of the BF children have not seen the complete movie and finally they watched! They have enjoyed every scene that they saw. Kiran, 15 says the best part is the whole part.. We have also exhibited series of photographs of all scenes taken by Frida Shanthi. Frida says that first time she has felt that she was an artist, having seen her own photographs exhibited.Venkatesh says that he likes the scene where Durga is sharing a small amount of food with street children. Gowri says that she likes that Gayathri acts as her mother, who dies from the suffering of giving a birth to Gowri. Anand says that he learned a lot from the process of making a film and appreciates that all children acted so well. He also says that we all should keep on dreaming and acting.

On the 14th, November, we had the first public screening at Ragigudda Slum, J.P. Nagar with 200 slum residents. Ragi Gudda was the location where this film was shot at the very beginning. The Ragi Gudda is a very famous slum in Bangalore where the agitation by the residents have been set on fire when the Government tried to force them to leave their homes. Anand, Subramani and Murgesh come from this slum. The scene where Anand's father beats his child and wife has been shot in Anand's house and in this slum.

The Bornfree is now all set to screen this film wherever possible. Please do let us know if you are interested in screening this film in your premises; colleges, schools, cooperates, etc. Contact us by email; mioinakayama@bornfreeart.org or phone; 9886011830/9886306366. The film is to raise a question whether we want a gun or pen.....

Ananda~Press Conference~the first release of the film in India

2010-11-11T18:29:00.002+05:30

We are pleased to announce that a biographical film about working and street children called "Ananda~an Ode to Joy" will be ever first released here in Bangalore. Children of the Bornfree will be present at the conference to talk about the film experiences and wishes about children of India before India Children's Day. Come and join us.

Date; 13th November, 2010

Time; 10:30 am onwards~

Venue: the Renukamba Theater, 18th Cross Malleswaram

Ananda~an Ode to Joy~Screening in Hiroshima

2010-09-11T13:31:00.004+05:30

Ananda~an ode to Joy will be screened in Hiroshima.

Ananda~an Ode to Joy is a non-fiction biographical movie about working children, acted by former working and street children of Bornfree Art School. Anand is a boy who wishes to study, but his father forces him to work. He drops out of the school, starts roaming on the streets. Out of hunger, he steals bread, money, fianlly BULLETS from the factory! He is arrested by the police, but he qeustions "I have stolen bullets out of hunger, and i am called a robber! But listen, who on this earth is the most guilty of producing guns and bullets and make money?" His journey starts with this question.............Guns vs Pens. Come and watch it! Details; mioinakayama.blogspot.com

Time: 12, September 2010 at Shinshyugakuryou, Nishiku Hiroshima
13:00~16:30

Ananda will be screened in India on the 14th of November 2010 for the first time.

Show red card to child labour on you tube

2010-06-27T17:24:00.001+05:30

Dear friend
Bornfree Art school

appeals to

Show Red card to child labour

watch and pass on our latest just a minute film

Show red card to child on youtube, watch it and pass it on!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSs-caQ3kA

Show Red Card to Child Labour

2010-05-22T08:02:00.000+05:30

Show Red card to Child labour

11th June~11th July 2010

This is the time when the world’s greatest sporting cultural spectacle will take place. The World Football Cup~FIFA will begin from the 11^th June 2010 at Johannesburg, South Africa. Whereas the world is paying the highest attention to the fever of football matches, tinny hands are still used to stitch footballs. While there are existing laws for the prevention of child labour, its impact and control has yet to be seen. That is because civil society has not accepted child labour as crime. The FIFA and football provides the necessary condition for the urgently needed campaign impetus. Hence, we have conceived the idea of conducting Show Red Card to Child Labour Football Tournament as a parallax to the FIFA World Cup days.

Who is organizing?

The Bornfree Art School is organizing this campaign. The BF is a movement for the liberation of working children from toil. We have done the History Expedition to record the history of working children, wrote the World’s Largest Love Letter to children of

Pakistan

in 2006. We undertook the Peacebycycle, cycling 2800kms from Bangalore to the Wagha Border, collecting 7000 peace messages from Indian children to the children of

Pakistan

. The Bornfree Football Club, which is consisted of street and working children, will initiate and organize the RED CARD tournament

What is gonna happen?

11^th June; Inauguration at the same time of the first football match of the FIFA World Cup. There will be a dream parade of children with masks and puppets on the theme of celebrating childhood {Liberation Parade}.

12^th June; International Day against Child Labour;

Starting with a procession from Bal Bhavan to Kanteerava Stadium, football match, film screening, cultural events and Children’s Parliament will be organized. Debate on the issue of child labor, implementation on the RIGHT TO EDUCATION. Invitations are open to school children, youth, educationist, journalists, and more.

11^th June to 11^th July; Football Tournament

The tournament will be conducted in the North ~South ~West ~ East school play grounds in the city in the preliminary league rounds, in order to wide spread the campaign against child labour. The final knockout will take place in the Bangalore Central District. All teams are invited.

1^st to 30^th June; Cultural Festivals; Call for Participation

Invitations are open to school children, youth, all artists to express and exhibit on the theme of child labour under the below sections of arts. Deadline is 30^th of June. The results will be announced on the 11^th of July at the Closing Ceremony. Each winner will be given awards and mementos.

1．Film Festival; John Abraham Award for the best video film / Shafi Syed Award for best documentary

2．Sculpture and Painting Festival; Child of Michael Angelo award for best sculptor /

Kathe Kollwitz award for best painter

3．Photography Festival; La Frida Bornfree Award for best photographer

4．Dace Festival; Marta Graham award for best group / Pina Bosch award for best story

5．Song / Music Festival; Bob Marley award for best band / Michel Jackson for best individual performance.

6．Mime Festival; Sir Charles Chaplin award for best group / Marcel Marceau award for best individual actor

7．Essay and Poetry Festival; Anna Frank Award for best literary work

11^th July; Closing Ceremony; this one-month match is going to be closed along with the global campaign called One GOAL final match. Works of winners of each festival will be displayed / performed / screened.

To participate....

Please contact us for more details by

Email; bornfreeart@gmail.com, johndevaraj@gmail.com, narendranathv@gmail.com, sandeepviswanaath@gmail.com mioinakayama@gmail.com

Phones; 9886306366, 9886011830, 9740128128, 08022183275

http://www.bornfreeart.org, http://bornfreeart.blogspot.com

Ananda Promotion Film on Youtube

2010-03-14T15:17:00.000+05:30

Dear friends.

We filmed Ananda~ An ode to joy

It became a story of stories profiling working children how they come into i, how they got liberated.

It has been a powerful experience with over 300 child actors give their best talent. It was filmed in a complete Guerilla combat style with a camera. It recorded truthfully the trials and tribulations of toiling struggling children. Twenty of the Bornfree children have been profiled with their true life stories. We are now in the processes of editing and making post production work. We started making Ananda as we hada powerful story to tell and not because we had the funds to make a film. But we are challenged by the lack of Money to complete. It is not so hopeless because we believe in processes of peoples participation in the making of it. And we believe you will support the making of Ananda and become a co producer of Joy

Ananda will be made in a 35mm format in Kannada, Tamil, English and Japanese We have to complete the making of it

We need another 600 000Indian Rupees/ 15 00 000 yen/ 10 000 Euros

Each print will cost Rs 100 000 X 4 versions Rs 400 000.

Editing costs Rs 30 000.

Dubbing Posting music Rs 30 000

Printing and publicity Rs 25 000

Film registration fees Rs 50 000

Postal and shipment costs , festival entry fees, Rs 25 000

honorarium and food for technicians Rs 40 000

Total Rs 6 00 000

Ananda is scheduled to be released on the 6th of August 2010.

Please view the trailer and forward it to your friends and those who want the liberation of

toiling children of the world.

See the trailer on the youtube.

Ananda~ an ode to joy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEn4CyuJTCA

Here below is the story of the film

A n a n d a

a biographical film on street kids.

Story. Screenplay Music Cinematography

John Devaraj

Ananda is a biographical work on street kids. Ananda, having been sent out of school worked as a tender coconut chopper forced into this job by his drunken father. Unable to do his homework, he is battered by his teacher. He runs away from school. Joins a bar and restaurant, learns drinking and smoking from his adult customers.

He sees his father among all the drunks; one day he smashes a glass of alcohol on the ground gets kicked out of his job. As he is walking away, he sees a petty shop, He looks at the sweets and is going for it when he sees the cash box open. He grabs as much change as he can, when the man shouts “thief, thief…”, he runs and runs but gets caught. He is jailed. He becomes a confirmed thief. When released, he meets a gang of street kids, and they share their histories.

Ananda has now a veteran of many thefts spots a box n the compound. of a small auxiliary production shed He sneaks to the sleeping security man .Grabs and runs He is chased by the security who then calls the police Ananda puts the box down and examines it, They are real empty brass bullet shells meant for guns It was an auxiliary unit of an ammunition factory

Ananda sells the bullets for its brass value As he walks across a grave yard, a rival gang bashes him up and grabs all his money. He is subsequently arrested.

When he comes out of the jail Ananda realizes crime does not pay. He tries to change his friends through dance, art music. He changes fist fighting feuds to artistic challenges, dancing, sports, drumming, stilt walking, painting, rock climbing. Soon a beautiful culture of freedom and liberation is discovered. As they are moving on in life, they meet a sculptor who is turning a stone into a beautiful figure of art. He exposes them to Art and a philosophy of the world. He helps them to think and makes them see the world better.

They are now cycling and enjoying a new found freedom and they are seeing places. On Republic Day, 26^th January, they visit a air show of the Nation. They joining the thronging thousands and shocked to see a whole lot of guns, war planes, blatant display of killing instruments.. The scene in frightening! Bullets and missiles and every shape and size ready to kill. Half a million people are applauding and cheering the thrilling flying machines.

They are angry. As the planes go up and down, they are catching them in the sky and breaking them.

As they return they stop near a factory and workers agitating for better wages It is a spring factory making springs for AK47 guns. A young trade union woman leader is talking about war and welfare, Education against war, guns versus butter. She is talking about globalization, the impact on the climate the energy spent on human destruction Ananda is listening intently and is motivated . Ananda gets on top of the wall and makes a passionate speech He demands Tell me friends “Who is the greater criminal is it me that stole empty bullet shells for its brass value for my empty stomach or those make real killing instruments, the merchants of death; fill their purses with money by the killing of innocent children? As they are walking down a Botanical garden they see a young woman making dance movements. They are awed with her movement they befriend her and learn that she is from Hiroshima. They appeal to her to teach them dancing. She shares her experience of being from Hiroshima the historic city where the first atom bomb was dropped. They are taken on an intense and deep journey of the effects and aftermath of a nuclear war. They go into a trance of war coming out of it very

Determined to change it. They decide to free all working children from toil. They want to express this Art music and Dance. To produce a culture of liberation. The Bornfree Art school is born free!

And they become talented Artists. Painters dancers mathematicians yearning for knowledge and a new found freedom Students Gaja has become a Gymnast. Santhosh is Moon walking with his horse, Prashanth is drumming .Kiran is sculpting

Ananda and Durga are dancing to Beethoven’s 9^th symphony Ode to Joy.

The Making of Ananda

The Bornfree Art school is producing the film through a cooperative ventureof small contributions from Children, Youth and people who believe in the cause of Children’s Liberation. They are the Co producers..Money of a big producer determine the way a film has tobe made Here we will decide to speak the truth without compromise.

The film has been made on a HDV format, a reverse tele cine { RTC} conversion made in 35 mm film format for purpose of showing in cinema houses and festivals.

If a Six hundred friends could contribute 10 Euros the film can be completed.

We appeal for your support.

Contributions by Cheque in India to the Artists United or Gondwanaland Foundation.

21 2^nd cross GH Layout 3^rd Block East Jayanagar Bangalore 560011

International contributions by bank transfer to

Mioi Nakayama, Citibank Shibuya Branch, Japan Acc number 5285647

Looking forward to your support

johndevaraj@gmail.com, 9886306366

mionakayama@gmail,com 9886011830

and the children of Bornfree Art school ~www.bornfreeart.org. bornfreeart@gmail.com

The New Trust

2010-03-09T20:59:00.001+05:30

Dear Friends,

Hi. It's been a long time to update the Blog. Sorry for the long silence! I will keep updating from now on! Here is a news about the change at the Bornfree. The trust for the Bornfree Art School is now reorganized; it is registered under the Karnataka Society Act and here are the new members of the Trust.

0. John Devaraj ( Life Trustee), Artistic Director of the Bornfree Art School
1. Dr. Narendranath V; Joint Medical Director, M.S. Ramaiah Memorial Hospital
2. Dr. Ravi Gopal Varma, Professor and Head; Department of Neuro Surgery, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals
3. S.R Sindia; Director of Sindia Swimming School
4. Fr. Melvin Pinto, S.J,; Headmaster St. Aloysius High School
5. Anantha, Artist
6. Sandeep V, Film Maker
7. Saravana Dhanapal, Artist
8. Swamy Mahamane, Artist
9. Maria Ralph, Artist
10. Aditya Mendonca, Student
11. Binndiya; Entrepreneur, Trainer and Writer
12. Parmesh, Headmaster of Banjarapalya Government School
13. Pooja Hegde, Artist
14. Arun Shiva G, Artist

As is now, there are 14 members who are officially committed as trustee members.

There are two levels of the Trust in the Bornfree; one is the above indicated, which consists of people from various social sectors. Another level is the committee which is consisted by young people who come from the working, street and bonded labour background, i.e. students of the Bornfree. They are the real actors who need to take up the Bornfree Movement. They are;

1. Sanjana Juanita D
2. La Frida Shanthi
3. Gayathri Verona
4. Gowri Gazella
5. Prashanth R
6. Anand Dhanakoti
7. Santosh
8. Subramani Dhanakoti

Ananda~A new film

2009-12-26T21:10:00.001+05:30

Ananda is a new film production which the Bornfree is currently working on. It is a biography of all our children~Anand, Gowri, Gaja, Srinivas D, and many more. It is a two-hour-future film. All children are acting in this.

A n a n d a

a biographical film on street kids.

Story. Screenplay Music Cinematography

John Devaraj

Ananda is a biographical work on a street kids. Ananda, having been sent out of school worked as a tender coconut chopper forced into this job by his drunken father. Unable to do his homework, he is battered by his teacher. He runs away from school. Joins a bar and restaurant, learns drinking and smoking from his adult customers.

He sees his father among all the drunks; one day he smashes a glass of alcohol on the ground gets kicked out of his job. As he is walking away, he sees a petty shop, He looks at the sweets and is going for it when he sees the cash box open. He grabs as much change as he can , when the man shouts “thief, thief…”, he runs and runs but gets caught. He is jailed. He becomes a confirmed thief. When released, he meets a gang of kids, In the meeting they share their histories.

Ananda now a veteran of many thefts spots a bag full of shining objects in the compound. He scales the wall, grabs and runs. They are real empty brass bullet shells meant for guns It was an auxiliary unit. of an ammunition factory

Ananda sells the bullets for its brass value As he walks across a grave yard, a rival gang bashes him up and grabs all his money. He is subsequently arrested. When he comes out of the jail Ananda realizes crime does not pay. He tries to change his friends through dance, art music. He changes fist fighting feuds to artistic challenges, dancing, sports, drumming, stilt walking, painting, rock climbing. Soon a beautiful culture of freedom and liberation is discovered. As they are moving on in life, they meet a sculptor who is turning a stone into a beautiful figure of art.. He brings them together through their own talents. Some become painters sculptors, Dancers etc

They are now cycling and enjoying a new found freedom and they are seeing places. On Republic Day, 26^th January, they visit a air show of the Nation. They joining the thronging thousands and shocked tp see a whole lot of guns, war planes, blatant display of killing instruments.. The scene in frightening!. Bullets and missiles and every shape and size ready to kill. Half a million people are applauding and cheering the thrilling flying machines.

They are angry. As the planes go up and down, they are catching them in the sky and breaking them.

There is flashback of their lives. The scene is frightening. Bullets and missiles and every shape and size ready to kill. Half a million people are applauding and cheering the thrilling flying machines They want to change this! No money for schools, all the money for war. As they return they stop near a factory and workers agitating for better wages It is a spring factory making springs for AK47 guns! Ananda who is the greater criminal me that stole empty shells or those make real killing instruments, the merchants of death. They are more determined to change it. They decide to free all working children from toil. They want to express this Art music and Dance. To produce a culture of liberation. And they become talented Artists. Students Gaja has become a Gymnast. Santhosh is Moon walking with his horse, Prashanth a sculptor.

Ananda and Durga have joined a ballet school and are dancing to music Ode to Joy.

The Making of Ananda

The Bornfree Art school will produce the film through a cooperative venture..This through small contributions from Children, Youth and people who believe in the cause of Children’s Liberation. The film will be made on a HDV format. and a reverse tele cine { RTC} conversion made in 35 mm film format for purpose of showing in cinema houses and festivals.

The filming shot over a period of 10 days requires Rs 50 000. {1000 Euros}

A two hour RTC costs 1200000 INRS {20 000Euros} to be considered in the II stage.} If a hundred friends could contribute Rs 500 each the film can be completed. We begin shooting Ananda from the 28^th of November. 2009.

We appeal for your support.

Contributions by Cheque in India to

Gondwanaland Foundation.

21 2^nd cross GH Layout 3^rd Block East Jayanagar Bangalore 560011

Looking forward to your support

Son of Michelangelo- Painting & Sculpture Exhibition by John Devaraj

2009-12-05T20:40:00.000+05:30

Dear Friends,

Please do come to Son of Michelangelo- Painting & Sculpture Exhibition by John Devaraj. The inauguration of the exhibition is on the 7th of December 2009 at 8pm at the F&B on the St. Mark's Road. Please do come. We will be presenting a small performance by the Bornfree Art School.

Mioi

Gaja goes back to the school~Latest News

2009-10-20T17:25:00.000+05:30

On the 20th of October 2009, after having been in the Bornfree for the past one and a half years, Gaja started to go to the formal school, Parikram school in Jayangar, Bangalore. Sold for the price of Rs.500 by his parents, he came along with 25 Bihari bonded labour children to work in the bag company in Bangalore. He had been stitching school bags for five years, being in the dark inside of the factory near Magestic. One day he hailed from the owner and came to the city station nearby where he met Elisabeth who brought him to the Bornfree. The journey of his success has started; joined the gymnastic classes at the Stadium, after a year, he is now representing Karnataka in the gymnastic competition. He joined several informal education schools. Everywhere he goes, his interests in learning are unlimited. He is extremely interested in dance, theater, drawing, painting, music apart from gymnastic. He wakes up at 4 am, leaves home at 5 am to go to the class. He may miss breakfast, but not a gymnastic class! Recently, John has taken him to the Parkram, which runs ICSE based education. Of course, he became already well-known among all kids because he did saumersauts! He wrote the exam and passed! Today was the ever first day of his schooling. His dream is to go back to Bihar to meet his parents one day...... He is currently working on a dance piece called "Two Little Crown" about circus children of the streets. He is going to stage on the 14th of November, Children's Day, at the Lalit Ashok Hotel.

Misho

Che Che Screening~14th October 2009

2009-10-11T21:34:00.000+05:30

Dear friends,

The Bornfree Art school in partnership with Alliance franchise invites you to the

screening of the film Che Che

at the Alliance Francaise,

Thimmaiah Road, Bangalore

on 14th October 6pm,

story, screenplay, Music, Direction

John Devaraj

produced by

the Bornfree Art school

The film show will be followed by a discussion by the child actors of the bornfree all former working children.

Please come and bring your friends along

Che Che is a cinematic expression in the style and genre of Sir Charles Chaplin Master of mime. After Charlie Chaplin; there has not been such quality cinema, mime, music with just subtitles and no dialogues.

This style made it possible to communicate some of the most intense problems of the world like Fascism, War, poverty, homelessness, and child workers and so on. You can laugh the whole way through and have tears and fears of the system that you became part of.

It was Chaplin who through his work Great Dictator who made the most profound critique of Hitler. The kid was a stunningly reality cinema, highly entertaining yet a damning statement on the conditions of working children, on poverty homelessness…

I sculpted Chaplin, which stands as stone tribute to in Bangalore to become the world’s largest existing image of the great Maestro!

Chaplin’s biggest lesson to me was to make people laugh and laugh until they can cry and act for the revolution which can free all toiling children.

Now I have made films in his style

Che Che in the film is a character who is proactive towards working children an artist like Michelangelo and Chaplin. He believes in social justice.

Che Che is also showing the conditions of working children in India through humor. It shows the stupidity of an adult world which denies children their childhood.

Che Che is a nonviolent silent communication in a violent world.

It is in the style of Gandhi and Luther King our gurus.

Three episodes Original format HDV , Silent with subtitles in English, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese are available for screening

Please forward invitation to friends

Cycle Journey

2009-10-08T23:13:00.000+05:30

The Bornfree people will begin a cycle journey for fun and fishing to the fishing camp, cauvery rivera 90 kms cycles to the fishing camp

Starting 10th October,Saturday, 6am

events at Camp Fishing, cooking, eating, playing football, Volley ball,musiac,Dance, swimming.

Camping around a camp fire.

Sunday 11th October departure to Bangalore 11 am.

Requirements: bring your own sleeping bags contribute towards cooking material like Rice, wheat floor, sugar, milk, snacks, limes, biscuits, vegetables and ofcourse some money for the fuel for support vehicles.

RSVP

Starting from Bornfree Studios , Avalahalli, Narayana Nagar near Gublalla petrol bunk on Kanakapura road.{call from here 9886306366/9886011830}

Children follow Ahimsa ~ Gandhi Jayanthi

2009-10-04T21:19:00.000+05:30

"We want Gandhi, we don't want Hitler! We don't want bombs, but we want pencils." So did the children of the Bornfree shout and appeal! The Bornfree children have staged "No Fat Boy Again" at the Town Hall, on the 2nd of October 2009, remembering the140th birthday of Mahatma Gandhiji. John Devaraj has created the actual size of the bomb ( FAT MAN ) which was dropped on Nagasaki. Children carried this huge bomb on their heads. One of the actors, Subramani, 15, stated to the public, "Our nation is spending too much money on wars and creating atomic bombs, but 134 million children like us have no access to schools. We want pencils in our hands."

India has now 17 nuclear reactors out of which, 7.7 % is concentrating in Tamil Nadu. Dr. Pugazhandi who is running his own clinic in Kalpakkam, 60km from Chennai, has noticed the pandemic of cancer cases among his patients. He has been finding the facts of the strong connection between the leakage of Radioactive Iodide from the Kalpakkam Atomic Reprocessing Plant and his cancer patients. At Kalpakkam, the media has reported that babies without legs and arms are being born, which is closely due to the leakage of the Power Plant. Maximum life of nuclear reactor is 40 years, but resulting waste will remain for 48,000years. The Indian Government has entered the new foreign nuclear relationship with the US Government, aiming to create 25000MW by the year of 2020. However, the question of safety remains unsolved. ( Reference; Press Release by the NAAM). http;//nfijounal.wrdpress.com

Mr. E P Menon has joined our performance. He is the ever peace lover of India. At the age of 24, he started to walk from Delhi to appeal the disarmament of nuclear weapons among nations. He walked up to the Indo-Pakistan border but at that time he had neither a passport nor a visa. He has written a letter to Mr. Nehru in 1962 and Nehru has sent a passport to Menon after sometime. However, Menon crossed the border without a document with a huge welcome from Pakistani people. Pakistani President Ayub Khan has publicly announced his peace journey in Pakistan. "Everywhere i was welcomed by the people. That time there was no political conflict between India and Pakistan. They are all our brothers and sisters." After Pakistan, he went to Afganistan and Russia. When he entered Paris, the French Government arrested him and put him in jail for four days. Then, he proceeded to London, America, finally he went to Tokyo. His final destination was Hiroshima, reaching on the 6th of August, the day when the Atomic Bomb was dropped on. He walked with 7 Japanese young people from Tokyo to Hiroshima. In August 1964, his journey of 10,000km was completed. He came back to India and wrote about his journey. The book is called Footprints on Friendly Roads, which is yet to be published in India.

Now there is a big peace movement by the National Alliance of Anti-Nuclear Movement (NAAM) by the people. The Bornfree Art School is also joining this wave and as young people and children, we will work on this nuclear issues. E P Menon said that when children participate actively in the peace movement, will be there a big change in the world.

Misho

Holiday Schedule 2nd to 14th October 2009

2009-10-04T12:09:00.000+05:30

Dear Friends,

The schedule of the next two weeks will be according to the below; many kids are having Dasara holidays;

11:00~12:00; Study ( any subjects ) at Puttanahalli
12:00~13:00; PC and Internet at Puttanahalli
13:00~14:00; Lunch
15:00~17:00; Theater Workshop at the Bornfree Studio(BFS)
17:00~18:00; Sports at the BFS
18:30~20:00; Dance at the BFS

10th and 11th of Oct; Picnic by cycling

Anyone who wants to join us to teach or just enjoy or whatever, please contact us by email or phone

Gandhi Day

2009-10-01T21:27:00.000+05:30

The Bornfree Art school will celebrate the birth of Mahatma Gandhi on the 2^nd October 2009at 10 am in front of the Town hall and in the environs of the sculpture park of Ravindra kalakshetra, JC Road, Bangalore.

Events

1 There will be a dramatic presentation of Gandhi breaks the bomb by the children of Bornfree Art school.

2 A scene from Shiroi Hana( White flowers regarding the bombing of Hiroshima Nagasaki/

3 Ms Mioi Nakayama of Hiroshima will render the Article 9 of the Japanese constitution which prohibits

Japan

from maintaining armed forces., that which is the direct translation of the values of Ahimsa taught to us by

4 There will be songs and talks by liberated peace loving children of the Bornfree.

The Nuclear warheads proliferation of the world has reached an intolerable self destruction peak of causing wide spread poverty, hunger and the creation of 246 million working a children of the world.. Half of them are in India.! Every tenth Indian is a working child.150 million children in

India

will not reach the 7^th std said the prime Minister.

That is because there is no money for education , but abundantly available for war.

India

spends 23142.22 crores on education and Rs 141 703 crores on defense to even an ever increasing budget.10 nations in the world have stockpiled 23 000 nuclear war heads capable of destroying the earth a million times., depleting its resources bringing about a climate change unfit for human survival.

Here is the stockpile: Russia 5830, USA 5735, China 200!250, UK 200,

Israel

200,

India 45~75, Pakistan 40~50 North Korea 1,

Iran

The Practise of Ahimsa and Non violence is the only solution to the alleviation of Indian poverty, hunger and illiteracy.

The Bornfree undertook the Peacebycycle in 2008 on the theme from Bangalore to Lahore one ore one heart. Pedaling 2800 kms this was called the second Dandi March. Gaja 9 year old student of the Bornfree was the leader of the expedition. We made salt at Dandi to commemorate the values of Ahimsa .7000 letters of love were collected from the children of India written to the children of

Pakistan

, which will be read on Gandhi’s 140^th Birthday

I request you to be present at the event to provide publicity for the issue and to take AHIMSA forward

John Devaraj,

Bornfree Art school, www.bornfreeart.org, bornfreeart@gmail.com 9886306366

Gandhi's Children against the Bombs

2009-09-28T19:46:00.001+05:30

The Bornfree is organizing a street performance on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhiji, on the 2nd of Ocboter, 2009. The Atomic Bomb is eating children and nuclear-armed nations are killing them. Children of Mahatma Gandhi will be reviving out of destruction and become Rainbow Warriors to change the world. We will be staging in front of the Town Hall, JC Road on this day. We have to create costumes, masks, postcards, puppets of bombs,etc . We would like to invite you all for this performance to remember Ahimsa~Non Violence that Gandhiji taught us. We will play music, hold exhibitions of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and do a procession till the City Market. Please come and help us to create. Preparation will be on the 30th Sep from 4 pm, 1st of Oct 2pm at the back of the Ravindra Kalakshetra.

Nowadays in the Bornfree

2009-09-26T19:26:00.001+05:30

After a long time i have gone to meet the Bornfree kids and they all are as energetic as ever. What a smile they share with me. All St. Joseph's Boys are busy with their first term exams. Sanjana, Gowri and Gaja went and came back from Dharwad, the North Karnataka, where Sanjana was born. They all came back to the Bornfree. Without my notice, Prem and John (Prem's elder brother) were gone...what made them leave the BF?...Abhilash is about to be dropping out from the St. Joseph's Indian High School and last week his mother was crying for. I felt he must be feeling something uneasy in his life. He is refusing to go to the school. I also came to know Anthony Das has left the 1st PUC at the St. Joseph's College. He is the first student of the Bornfree who successfully has got a seat in the St. Joseph's and passed the 10th standard SSLC exam. It was his wish to continue his studies, but he had to switch his study medium language from Kannada to English, so he is feeling extremely difficult with his studies. So, what has to be done? We need a help for those who are at the crisis of studies or anything that might bring emotional instability to them. We cannot just feel safe after putting them into the mainstream of education. We need to do more for them....
Misho

Sculpting at Bornfree

2009-09-22T12:53:00.000+05:30

Several of the Bornfree students are studying the process of creating a clay model and casting it in plaster. Today will be the last day of final touches to the clay models and we will cast them in plaster tomorrow. Keep an eye out for pictures of this process!

If you are interested in Bornfree running a clay and plaster casting workshop in your school or organization, please contact Bornfree at bornfreeart@gmail.com or through the website: http://bornfreeart.org/contact.htm.

Trustee Meeting Results

2009-09-22T12:49:00.000+05:30

The meeting this past Friday went very well. We are now in the process of amending our draft and submitting it to the lawyer. We will continue to keep you updated as to the status of the trust!

Bornfree Trustee Meeting

2009-09-17T11:53:00.002+05:30

Bornfree is creating a new foundation trust!
The first meeting of this trust will take place on Friday the 18th of September at 6:00pm at the Art 9 Studio, on State Bank Road, Purshathom Layout.

Bornfree has been delighted that everyone who was approached to be a part of this trust immediately accepted. We look forward to working together with all of you- together we can do great things!

Shiroi Hana Show

2009-09-17T07:17:00.002+05:30

Dear Friends,

Here is a photo album of Shiroi Hana show coming up on this weekend. Please join us and watch!
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/mioinakayama/ShiroiHana#

Shiroi Hana-19th September 2009

2009-09-13T20:30:00.007+05:30

Shiroi Hana

19th September 2009, 3pm to 5pm
At the Auditorium of the St. Joseph’s Pre-University College, Residency Road

30-minute-theater-dance show presented by children of the Bornfree Art School

Talk by John Devaraj, the Artistic Director & sculptor ““War Economy and Child Labour”

With a collaboration of the Diploma Course of Human Rights, St. Joseph’s College and SICHREM-South India Cell for Human Rights Education

Ten nations in the world posses nuclear bombs capable of destroying the world a 350 000 times, as many times as people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki died. Human energies and natural resources of the world are being directed towards not human construction but human destruction
There is A WAR going on. A civil war an unholy war an unrecognized war Declared by all adult men of greed against all innocent children, who were all born free now enslaved, shackled to labor! 127 million in India 246 million in the world 50% of all toiling children in India Essential products for human existence and living flavor is being provided by child labour.

We need beauteous birth not death.We need life not a knife, we need bread not bombs

There is a definite link between costs of wars and contribution to education. The economics and dynamics of arming the world and feeding its standing armies is impoverishing the children of the world. The mercenaries of war and arms marketers deny children their right to education, deny the construction of schools as top priority and therefore contribute towards illiteracy, poverty and underdevelopment.
War mongers have not learnt from the suffering of the people of Hiroshima. Twenty four nations have understood this and have no armies. They have all this saved resources for their people. We need no armies to talk to each other. We want to be friends without borders. We need the flower power of Shiroi Hana to bring about world peace.

Shiroi hana is all facts and no fiction. When the bombs fell on Hiroshima and reduced these white flowers to ashes, biologists said that white flowers will not grow for another 75 years But the power of nature is supreme. Shiroi hana came back in three weeks. The inherent nature of Human beings is thus like nature. The world needs to be friends without borders with Shiroi hana.

The Bornfree Art School cordially invites you, your friends and families for the Shiroi Hana show. Please be kindly present. The venue is at the auditorium of the St.Joseph’s Pre-University College ( 2^nd Floor) and timing is between 3pm and 5 pm. Thank you.

Che Che

2009-09-08T12:31:00.004+05:30

Charlie Chaplin returns as

Che Che

Through non violent silent communicative films to make the world laugh, think and free working children of the world

Releasing worldwide triology

Bonda Boy; about children working in Hotels ~ 29minutes, B&W

Ragged dancers; About Rag picking children~18 minutes, B&W

Domestic Monster; About children working in domestic houses ~ 25minutes, B&W

Black and white and read all over

Though the labour law prohibits employing children under the age of 14 years. Millions of children are made to toil. Working children of the world stand at 246million and India 134million Civil society did not take child labour as crime and hence it will grow and go on. Child labour is like the system of dowry. Both systems are prohibited but both grow. People’s mindset has to be changed.

Art can change the world and give a new vision. That is CheChe Che Che is the truth in Black and white and red all over Che Che also refuses class conflicts but raises a doubt in the adult viewer’s minds that they are responsible in freeing children.

Culture of liberation We intend to take Che Che to schools and colleges , institutions, organization, communities wherever people gather. screening as a an education through entertainment program . This idea envisages that Child labour should become a subject of syllabus for children the future citizens of India

Che Che actors The child actors in the film are those who have toiled from their cradle and are now liberated. They are appealing to you by their immense acting and communicative skills. They have also contributed to the production of the films in all its creative aspects. The journey is memorable than the destination.

The Bornfree movement for the liberation of toiling children will be spread and supported by screening and viewing Che Che. Please arrange for screenings in your schools, institutions, neighborhoods. Get Humanize the world: Childrenize the world

No child is free until all children are free.

John Devaraj, Artistic Director

(Che Che produced by the Bornfree Art school International)

Che Che Released in Hyderabad

2009-09-08T09:38:00.006+05:30

On the 1st September 2009, Che Che was released at the press conference in Hyderabad with the message by Dr. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. She states; "Children are children wherever they are.The 'Bonda Boy' working in the hotels the 'mane bootha' working as domestic child labour and the 'rag pickers' in John Devaraj's film "Che Che" show their jest for life and fun.The pathos of their working conditions and yet their playfulness and the child's imagination has been so wonderfully captured in the film. We, as middle class, interact with these children in our daily lives so much, i am sure that the creative way in which John Devaraj has shown child labour in this film woudl sink into our hearts on how much we exploit our children and how awfully dependent we are on them. It is a brilliant film so Charlie Chaplinisque touching the heart of each of the viewers. It strikes the right chord of moral indignation. This must move us to action. Let me congratulate John and his team for this wonderful production. Prof. Shatha Sinha"

It is indeed demanding to show Che Che everywhere possible. Please help us to screen this film in your community, schools, colleges, corporates etc.

September~Upcoming Events

2009-09-06T14:14:00.003+05:30

September 10; Michel Jackson Memorial National Dance and Cultural Festival 2009@ Town Hall

Dancers of the Bornfree Dance Academy will be participating to remember Michel Jackson....

September 19; Shiroi Hana, a theater about Hiroshima and Nagasaki@ the place yet to be announced, Students of Keisen Women's University, Japan will visit to watch the show by the Bonrfree Art School

Welcome to the Bornfree Art School

2009-09-06T13:58:00.003+05:30

Dear Friends,

The Bornfree Art School has celebrated the 5th birhtday!

We are glad to keep informing our ongoing activities in this blog. The Bornfree is a movement by the people and we are looking forward to your active participation. You can teach 3Rs, subjects, dance, music, theater, sculpting, painting, photography, filmmaking, etc for children.

Help them to come back to their stolen childhoods and to dream their own dreams!

Please contact us at

bornfreeart@gmail.com, or

9886306366 / 9886011830.