by Brother Jittin Matthew
MUMBAI, MAY 9, 2019: The boys of Bosco Boys Home (BBH) Borivli attended a three-day session entitled ‘Craftopia’ organised by fashion stylist and lecturer, Eleesha D’souza from May 25 to 27.
Craftopia is a brainchild of D’souza and Larrisa D’Mello. The duo has completed their Masters in Home Science, with D'Souza lecturing at The Synthetic and Art Silk Mills’ Research Association (Sasmira) and D'Mello teaching at an NGO that trains teachers.
The theme for the first day was vegetable printing on cloth bags. On the second day, the boys learned the art of making pop-up cards and on the final day, they participated in the craft of clay moulding.
“Fabric printing is an extensive process usually not for children. We have simplified the activity using cut vegetables and paint to accomplish this task,” D'souza said. “This the activity focused on the sense of sight; engagement of sight with various colours, shapes, and texture. Varied sizes of potatoes were used by the children with shapes cut out. The children found this activity very interesting and made good final products out of the art.”
“Pop-up cards are a very creative way of wishing anyone. Handmade cards give one the opportunity to express themselves and adds a unique flavour to that expression. This activity explores the sense of touch and sight. Clay moulding is a sense of touch activity. It helps children develop their fine sensory motor skills,” D'Souza added.
“Thanks, Eleesha Didi for showing me how to make pop-up cards. Now I will use this method to make welcome, thank you, and birthday cards,” Pratik Gade, a standard five boy said.
Deacon Romero D’Souza, the Prefect of Studies at BBH, while explaining the concept behind this session said, “Craftopia's summer sensation is an elaborate series of activities planned for children to understand and hone all the five senses while learning a new craft each time. These activities are a good way for children to enjoy and put their creativity to good use. I thank Eleesha for her kind gesture and spending these three days with the boys teaching them and helping them explore their creative talents to the full.”