It is noon and students of Little Flower U.P. School, Pottakuzhy, are out there on the schoolyard talking and playing. Some of them slowly move to the verandah and stand there looking curiously at the walls, where students of St Teresa's College, Ernakulam, paint children’s best cartoon buddies. It begins with Popeye and his favourite spinach, followed by Chhota Bheem and Raju, Bunny, Dora and Buji, Jerry and Snow White. However, the characters are not there just to amuse children, but to teach them good eating habits.
A voluntary initiative by the Department of Fashion Designing and the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, these colourful drawings uplift the mood of the school. “Second year U.G. students of Fashion Designing and P.G. students of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics are taking part in this venture,” says Lekha Sreenivas, associate professor at the Department of Fashion Designing.
This is their department’s third venture. If earlier projects had just cartoon characters, this time, they are doing it different. “These characters impart certain lessons. They exhort children to give up junk food and embrace healthy food,” adds Lekha.
A student curiously watches as volunteers paint
For instance, next to the image of Popeye is written ‘Spinach makes me healthy and strong’. However, they have replaced Chhota Bheem’s ladoo with egg, and one can see a dreamy Raju thinking about a healthy Bheem. “It is because ladoo is not a healthy option, whereas egg and milk are rich in protein and calcium,” says Surabhi, a clinical nutrition student.
In the next picture, bunny eats carrot that helps vision. Dora runs away from junk food and gets happy when she sees a fruit basket. Jerry is there to talk about an ‘eat well plate’, which is a mixture of fruits, vegetables, and milk. Finally comes Snow White with an array of fruits.
They also take this as an opportunity to teach students shapes. If one message is written within a circle, the other is in hexagon. “This is a great opportunity for us to learn the techniques of wall painting,” says Amrutha, a fashion designing student.
The happiest person to see this is headmistress Maria Lilly K.J., who fights tooth and nail to safeguard the school. Except the government help, the school gets no aid from anyone, not even the authorities concerned.
“Children belonging to economically weaker sections study here. Among them, 75 per cent are from other states. We don’t have sufficient amenities here. We run with the help of our well-wishers,” she says.
“I always wanted something like this on these walls for my children. I had maps of Kerala, India and the World in mind. Now, I have got more than I desired. I am so happy. I feel blessed,” she says.
