Change Children

Cinema for a cause

2010-03-25T11:10:00.001-07:00

http://expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Cinema+for+a+cause&artid=5R15xD8i1Ak=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&SEO=&SectionName=rSY|6QYp3kQ=

WHEN filmmaker Rajesh S Jala’s two documentary films — Floating Lamp of the Shadow Valley and Children of the Pyre —were screened, the audience was left completely awe-struck by the filmmaker’s talent in documenting the lives of these unfortunate and unprivileged children. The former dealt with the life of Arif in Kashmir and the latter about seven children, who make their living out of the dead at Manikarnika, Varanasi.

The two documentaries were screened as part of CANSWER initiative, a day-long programme that also saw an interactive session with directors Balu Mahendra, Madhu Ambat, Rajesh S Jala and Hariharan.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr Rajesh Jeganathan, managing director, Billroth Hospitals and the founder of Dr V Jeganathan Foundation, said, “I started the foundation in the name of my father V Jeganathan. In order to spread awareness on cancer we started CANSWER, a public outreach programme on February 4.” The objective of CANSWER is to create awareness among both, the urban and rural public.

“As part of the initiative, we had these two documentaries screened.
We have also invited students to participate in the short film and photography competitions on cancer awareness so as to reach more people. We’ve received 250 entries till now and there’s a special jury formed to select the winners.

Three winners from each category would be selected. The first prize consists of Rs 60,000 in cash and Rs 30,000 for the photography contest.” On the occasion, CANSWER donated Rs 1 lakh to PLAN, an NGO with whom filmmaker Rajesh Jala has tied up for the rehabilitation of those seven children.

Dr Rajesh Jeganathan also announced that the foundation would sponsor Arif with Rs 25,000 towards his education.

“CANSWER would be a continuous campaign and we would organise many events,” said Dr Rajesh, whose Dr V Jeganathan Foundation has allocated a sum of Rs 60 lakh per year towards treating cancer affected patients and 10 beds have been allocated for these patients at Billroth Hospitals.

“Child welfare is also our priority. The foundation would create awareness on diabetes, heart diseases and AIDS in the coming years,” informed Dr Rajesh.

Sharing his experiences on documenting the life of Arif, a boatman, in his documentary Floating Lamp of the Shadow Valley, Rajesh S Jala said, “I w e n t t o Kashmir in 2 0 0 5 - 0 6 , where I met Arif and it’s an extraordinary story. I was with Arif for a year documenting him in different seasons.

He is in a public school now and thanks to Dr Rajesh for donating Rs 25,000 towards his education.

He is in class seven at present.” Rajesh also added that he went to Manikarnika and developed a special bonding with those seven children, whom he documented in his award-winning documentary Children of the Pyre. “I spent a month there to make a film and I followed those kids for the next one-and-a-half years,” said Rajesh, who then tied up with PLAN, an NGO to rehabilitate these children.

Rajesh informed that four among the seven children are in a boarding school and one joined in a dance academy, as he’s extremely interested in dancing. “We’re working something out for the other two as they’re too old to join in a school, “ he said and added that “Children of the Pyre is not just a film, it’s a mission to try to change the lives of the kids.”

Rs 1 lakh for crematoria children to join schools

2010-03-25T11:09:00.001-07:00

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/rs-1-lakh-crematoria-children-join-schools-786

March 24: “I want more people to die.” The chilling statement was not from a psychopath killer but a 15-year-old vettiyaan working at Manikarnika, India’s busiest cremation ground at Varanasi. Like this Raja Choudhury, scores of children working in cremation grounds across the country may now pick up school bags, thanks to a filmmaker who has made a touching documentary on their miserable lives by the dead.

Children of the Pyre made by internationally known filmmaker Rajesh S. Jala, touched several hearts, including that of Rajesh Jeganathan heading the Billroth Hospitals here, who announced a donation of Rs 1 lakh to help get the crematorium kids to schools. “Big thanks to Chennai. This is the first time I got such a big donation for helping those children in Varanasi. My film has won several awards but only now I get the feeling that I have succeeded in my work,” said a beaming Jala, responding to the Billroth donation.

Mr Rajesh Jeganathan said rather than treading the beaten track of holding one-day health camps, the hospital decided to donate for the education of poor children. “Rajesh Jala is well known for speaking out on the problems of children. We were shocked when we learnt about this film on the sufferings of the children in Varanasi cremation ground,” he said, promising more aid for such kids.

The hospital has also decided to help a Kashmiri boy portrayed in Jala’s ‘Floating lamp of the Shadow Valley’ dealing with the tragedy of kids in the Himalayan valley in permanent strife.

THE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS

2010-02-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

"CHILDREN OF THE PYRE" IN SCHOOL : THE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS

It gives me immense satisfaction to announce that a significant milestone has been reached on the journey of transforming the lives of the seven children featured in "Children of the Pyre". On 17th February, 2010, four of the seven, ie: Yogi, Bacha Babu, Manish and Ashish were shifted to Alice Project Universal Education School, Sarnath, Banaras. The school, described by his holiness the Dalai Lama, as a, "symbol of compassion and wisdom", provides children from economically poor families from around the area, a chance to get an education and attend a school, something most would not be able to afford otherwise.

Kevin Ryder, his wife Alicia, their families and friends have pledged to sponsor the education of the four children. In addition to this, they are also sending a monthly stipend to the families of each of the seven children featured in the film to ensure they stay away from the cremation ground. I would like to thank Kevin, Alicia, the wonderful people at "Project Alice" and hundreds of others for the support you have given. Together we shall give these children, and many more like them, an education and a chance at a better life.

PLAN INTERNATIONAL

Plan International, a global NGO, launched project "Bhaghirathi" in collaboration with the director of the film, Rajesh S. Jala on 4th Sep. 2009 to transform the lives of 300 underprivileged children working at different Ghats of Banaras.

Children of The Pyre got a number of international and national awards and we are elated by these wins but the real winners in this epic saga are really the children themselves, because all of this will contribute in its own way in helping propel the process of transformation as initiated by Plan and project "Bhaghirathi". We are just getting started on this remarkable journey of transformation and hopefully, with a little bit of help from you and other well wishers, we shall succeed in making approximately 300 ill-fated children of Benares come one step closer to realizing their dreams.

For support and further details please visit our website:
http://rajeshsjala.com/

Children in school

2010-02-26T21:31:00.001-08:00

A significant milestone has been reached on the journey of transforming the lives of the seven children featured in "Children of the Pyre".
On 17th February, 2010, four of the seven kids: Yogi, Bacha Babu, Manish and Ashish were shifted to a boarding school Alice Project Universal Education School, Sarnath, Banaras. The school, described by his holiness the Dalai Lama, as a, "symbol of compassion and wisdom", provides children from economically poor families from around the area, a chance to get an education and attend a school, something most would not be able to afford otherwise.
Kevin Ryder, his wife Alicia, their families and friends have pledged to sponsor the education of the four children. In addition to this, they are also sending a monthly stipend to the families of each of the seven children featured in the film to ensure they stay away from the cremation grounds. I would like to thank Kevin, Alicia, the wonderful people at "Project Alice" and hundreds of others for the support you have given. Together we shall give these children, and many more like them, an education and a chance at a better life.