Bringing Colours to the Hills
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How an Art Teacher Sparked Creativity Among Tribal Children in Kerala
In the quiet, verdant hills of Malakkappara in Kerala, where tea plantations stretch for miles and dense forests echo with the sounds of nature, a splash of colour recently transformed the lives of tribal children. It was not a festival or a government initiative, but the efforts of one dedicated art teacher—Priya Shibu—who brought a summer art camp right to their doorstep.
Priya, an art educator with a passion for nurturing creativity, travelled to this remote hamlet with one mission in mind: to give children the space and freedom to explore their imagination through art. Her camp was not just about painting or drawing; it was about helping these children dream with colours and see the world through their own lens.
Malakkappara, nestled in the Western Ghats, is home to various tribal communities. While the region boasts stunning natural beauty, access to creative educational resources for children is minimal. Schools in the area often lack the infrastructure or support for extracurricular activities like visual arts. Priya recognised this gap and decided to take her summer camp to the children instead of waiting for them to come to her.
Set up in the heart of the tribal settlement, the makeshift art camp became a buzzing hub of activity. Children of different age groups gathered with curiosity, many of them holding a paintbrush or colour pencil for the very first time. “I didn’t want them to just learn how to draw,” said Priya. “I wanted them to experience the joy of expressing themselves, free from rules or judgments.”
Over several days, the children explored various mediums—watercolours, crayons, clay modelling, and more. What made the camp truly special was its open-ended approach. Priya encouraged them to paint what they saw around them—their homes, forests, animals, and the hills. Others let their imaginations take flight, drawing fantasy scenes with flying tigers and talking trees.
The joy was evident on their faces. Each brushstroke was an act of discovery. For many of the children, this was the first time they were told that their stories, their visions, mattered—and that art was a language they could use freely.
Parents and community elders watched with a mix of wonder and pride. Initially unsure about the idea, they soon realised how the camp was uplifting their children’s spirits. Some even joined in to try their hand at painting. “We never knew our children had this kind of creativity,” said a mother, admiring a colourful painting her daughter had made.
The camp concluded with a small exhibition within the hamlet. Artwork was hung on strings between trees, creating a forest gallery that the entire village came to see. Laughter, chatter, and wide-eyed wonder filled the air as children proudly pointed out their creations.
For Priya, the success of the camp was not measured in artistic technique but in the confidence it sparked. “Art is not just for galleries and classrooms,” she said. “It belongs in every corner of the country, including places like Malakkappara. Every child deserves to know they can create something beautiful.”
Her initiative is now inspiring other educators and volunteers to consider taking creative workshops to rural and tribal areas. Priya hopes to return to Malakkappara next year, this time with more materials and maybe even collaborating with local artists.
Through her simple yet powerful gesture, Priya Shibu has proved that sometimes, all it takes to light up a child’s world is a splash of paint, a little encouragement, and someone who believes in their potential.
