Following the outbreak of Coronavirus, nationwide lockdown declared by the Government has invited huge impact on the lives of the children. They are distracted from education as their annual examinations have been completed and new classes are suspended. Owing to lockdown, their normal movements and playing in groups have been restricted. They are sitting idle at home and barely waiting for when there will be lifting of lockdown and they will be free from the prison. If the lockdown continues further, the situation may lead them to depression.

For holistic development of the children and youths in Rayagada district, CYSD has been engaged with anout 600 children for last 3 years in partnership with ChildFund India. Considering the gravity of the situation, some innovative home-based activities are planned, like Art & Craft, creative writings – poem, song, stories and slogans to create community awareness on Corona engaging the children.  Art & craft materials including, note books, paper and pen have been distributed to the children of 33 operational villages through child clubs. Besides, CYSD team has also mobilized resources from other NGOs and local corporate houses in close coordination with Block Administration to support a total of 2165 children of Kolnara Block (GPs, like Gadiseskhal, Kolnara, Suri, Therubali, Rekhapadar, etc.) and Rayagada blocks (GPs of Kotapeta, Kontalpeta, Karlakona, Chandili and Penta) in the district. It has been decided that in every week under each segment one child will be felicitated at the Block level. The creative works of the children will be uploaded in the ‘Mo Prativa’ Programme website launched by the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Govt. of Odisha in collaboration with UNICEF.

The innovating programme has experienced a grand success in first week of its launching. Children are very enthusiastic and have expressed their ground-breaking thoughts through Art Work and Writings. Indeed, they are enjoying the lockdown period staying at home.

“I was bored sitting idle at home. The art and craft material supplied to us have inspired a lot to sketch our inventive thoughts. I am enjoying this lockdown time in painting, drawing and writing stories among friends. I am surprised, how the time passes by”, says G. Regalpadu, member of a Child Club with cheerfulness in his lips.