PROGRAM

Apne Haath Uthao

LOCATION

Begumpur Balwadi, Begumpur, Delhi

MENTORS

Henri Arthur Fanthome
Parul Kiri Roy

DATE

28-31 May 2015

PARTNERS

Servants of the People Society
Stonex India Pvt. Ltd.

Text by Henri Arthur Fanthome

The workshop revolved around a discussion on design and the realization that (in the words of the participants themselves) design is every where and is present, and discernable even in the midst of our “normal” everyday life and environment. And that design is a process that uses the imagination and simple critical analysis to formulate new vision. It was this basic notion that was used to guide and bring to fruition the workshop called, “Apne Haath Uthaao” at the modest Balvadi in Begampur.

Over 4 days, we engaged with the children of Begampur village, a small low income Urban Village, in stark contrast to the more affluent south Delhi localities that hedge it in on all sides. The children were a mix of 10 to 15 year olds, boys and girls, that went to various schools.

The process relied on four aspects:

1. Searching / researching and identifying opportunity
2. Conceptualization of intervention
3. Re-visit / iteration on concept to develop a prototype
4. Expression of developed idea through models, drawings, performance etc.