WHAT WE DO
Theatre for Change is quite literally about working on the Self and social change through Theatre. Our workshops are spaces to not only practice the craft but also bring out real-life stories of social issues that plague our society. Participants open up to sharing their own experiences, confidently put their point across and cultivate a safe space for discussions and deliberations. Theatre for Change aims to make the learning process more experiential by bringing together young adults from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
Our Program In a Nutshell
Launching an online platform to engage with young adults on the use of Theatre for Expression and Empowerment
WHY IT MATTERS
Theatre is one of the most powerful tools to work towards self-growth. It not only encourages one to delve within oneself but also opens up the mind to engage more actively with the social world.
OUR WORK TILL NOW
Using Theatre to promote expression and empowerment among youth from different socio-economic backgrounds.
‘Once Upon at Time’ at Vasant Valley School
On August 1, 2022, the Yuva Ekta Playback Theatre Group performed for the senior school students at Vasant Valley School. This performance came as an introductory session to our Theatre for Change program that we are attempting to launch in schools across Delhi NCR. More importantly however, it was a time to reconnect with young adults from schools after they have reopened. The mood in the room was ‘somber’ as recalled by one of the audience members. With our theme, ‘Once Upon a Time’, our intent was to transport students into a magical world where they could fulfill their dreams and desires. As we progressed, students spoke about past traumas and experiences they hadn’t shared with anyone. We moved from ‘somber’ to intense and serious in no time and as we ended our performance, we saw yet another hand-up from a boy who wanted to share more. We only wished…
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‘Theatre for Change’ goes online with ArtGyan
24th May - 5th June 2021 Children need life skills. In all our interactions with teachers and students, we have found that while there are amazing academic opportunities, spaces for enhancing social and emotional intelligence are diminishing. The rampant use of social media can make us believe that there are sufficient spaces for expression. However, in a world of chasing ‘likes’ and addiction to ‘filters’, authentic and honest outlets are hard to find. ‘Theatre for Change’ program focuses on self and social change through Theatre and Expressive Arts. Theatre allows one to overcome inhibitions, ideate freely, form opinions and be open to other’s viewpoints. Our workshops are spaces to not only practice the craft but also bring out real-life stories of social issues that plague our society. Participants open up to sharing their own experiences, confidently put their point across and cultivate a safe space for discussions and deliberations. Theatre…
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Online Playback Performance with Kamla Nehru College, Delhi University
The Yuva Ekta Playback Theatre Group had the honour of performing thrice for the students of Department of Psychology, Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. A total strength of 90 students was divided into three batches, each of whom presented with some heartwarming stories for us to ‘play’ with. Since the lockdown began, the Yuva Ekta Playback Theatre Group has been experimenting with the theme ‘Towards a New Horizon: New beginnings. New challenges’. The idea is to explore uncertainties in the world around us, as lockdown restrictions begin to ease. Each story that has been narrated as a part of this theme has been borne out of one’s special and unique circumstances. Performing for young students of Kamala Nehru College was an absolute delight. For the first time, we received a genuine insight into how the University education world has been turned upside down since the beginning of the pandemic.…
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ONLINE PLAYBACK PERFORMANCE WITH VASANT VALLEY SCHOOL
It is not unreal to think that the world will not be the same anymore. Our notions of work, interaction, communication and hygiene have all swiftly been replaced by ‘novel’ ideas. Undeniably, this lockdown was a necessary evil to contain the spread of this deadly virus; but are we ready to accept that it also necessitates wide-ranging structural changes? It is equally distressing to already witness the unequal impact of these transitions. At The Yuva Ekta Foundation, our effort during this lockdown has been to reimagine the way we express, interact and engage with each other. We find that now more than ever, the Arts are becoming integral to re-establish this sense of human connection. Arts offer new ways of listening to our voices and our stories, and finding meaning to our lived experiences. It offers a chance to be reflective and introspective, often providing a calming and relaxing space…
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Kahaaniyon ki Rahasyamayi Duniya- The Mysterious World of Stories
The Yuva Ekta Foundation returned to the Jaipur Literature Festival with the 13th edition of the Youth Outreach Program. This year, 55 young adults explored “Kahaaniyon ki Rahasyamayi Duniya - the Mysterious World of Stories". With our theme this year we pose a question: with a dominant narrative trying to define our lives, do we run an acute risk of losing our own stories? Stories of courage we have grown up with, stories that have inspired and transformed us, stories being created at this very moment! A program that began in 2007, has now managed to reach out to more than 20,000 students, young adults, educators, community members and JLF visitors through the years. Working at the intersection of youth and governance, this program looks at integrating young adults from urban and rural backgrounds through Expressive Arts. The topics covered each year are well aligned with the larger intent of the Festival.…
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‘Believe in Me’
In August this year we started working with boys in the Second Chance Home, Ritinjali. Coming from all parts of the country, this facility offers a chance at vocational training and personality development for marginalized youth. While there was a pre-decided outcome of this endeavor, three months is a long time to go deeper into issues faced by the boys. Starting with basic theatre and arts based exercises, we introduced the boys to storytelling and narration of life’s experiences through theatre. It was only recently in our post-program interaction that we realized that the process had the boys initially confused as to what was happening and why. As facilitators however, we found our participants to be whole-heartedly involved in the process. Gradually as the workshops went along, we went deeper into stories of marginalization, societal isolation and the impact it had on mental health. In fact, all stories were bound…
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Theatre Workshops at Bosco Institute, Assam
“My time in Jorhat changed me as a facilitator. It was the first time I stepped out of my comfort zone. I was scared because I was working with students of my age who faced a completely different set of issues. But the workshops helped me grow into a more confident and passionate social worker.” -Rijul Kataria was a student volunteer and guest facilitator with the Foundation. He currently works as the Research Coordinator with us. To know more about him, click here. <INSERT LINK) The Foundation was invited by Bosco Institute, Jorhat, Assam to conduct an Expressive Arts workshop as part of the introductory module for M.A (Social Work) students in the Institute in 2013. Two facilitators from the Foundation made the long trip across the country to make this expedition possible. Bosco Institute’s Masters Program has a phenomenal reputation among the citizens of Assam. Youth from across the…
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Finding Me
“Being a part of Yuva Ekta was possibly the most defining part of my school days. ‘Finding Me’ was an incredible journey that truly delivered what it promised: me finding myself. The project involved several months of workshops and rehearsal and culminated in a street-play performance in Bluebells School International- my alma mater, and Dilli Haat. It taught me the meaning of social change and how the Arts can be an influential way of making it happen. All that time I spent with the team, having conversations about sensitive issues and laughing about our adolescent joys, changed me for the better. It not only helped me connect to the essence of our mission but also turned me into a more tolerant individual, accepting of the experiences, similarities and differences that make us who we are. I am truly grateful to the Yuva Ekta Foundation for helping me discover a piece…
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Youth Outreach Program @ Jaipur Literature Festival
Pooja came in as a participant from Bassi village representing Doosra Dashak, an NGO working on community upliftment in various ares in Rajasthan. For the first two days, Pooja was a girl with a headscarf who couldn’t even gather the courage to hold the mike. By the time we started performing, Pooja was the star of the show with a monologue of her own. The headscarf had come off and she was a girl brimming with confidence and self-assurance. For Pooja and her friends, this was the first ever trip to a city. A few days after the festival, Pooja’s father called up our Managing Director Ms. Puneeta Roy, expressing gratitude for his daughter’s transformation. “Pooja affected me the most for I have noted a drastic change in her in the last few days. When she came on the first day she was so shy that she didn’t even want…
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Sounds Of Freedom- Youth Outreach
“It was great to be a part of 'Naatya Raasta' and performing in the Sounds of Freedom Festival. It has always been enlightening working under the direction of Mrs. Puneeta Roy. I think we as artists should come up with more programs like this. All the workshops, interactive sessions, performances took us a step closer to reality of Gender Issues. It was my very first theatre project and all the techniques and exercises were new to me. It helped me express myself better as a performer. I found a new direction, and different perspective for art.” Amber Sahni worked with the Foundation for the first time as a part of the Sounds of Freedom Youth Outreach Program- 2015. A passionate dancer, Amber wants to dedicate his life to this art form. His hard work and commitment has helped him grow as an actor as well. In 2016, he played the…
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Tin Forest International Theatre Festival
Pankaj is an established actor, director and choreographer who’s bagged roles in Bollywood films like ‘Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye!’ and ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhag’, ‘Road to Ladakh’ and 'Murari, The Mad Gentleman’ among others. He has a longstanding job as an actor in Kingdom of Dreams’s production, ‘Jhumroo’. He ran away from his village Firozpur (Uttar Pradesh) as a young boy and came to Delhi to start life anew. His years at the Salaam Baalak home take him through school and college, as his interest in Theatre grows. Today Pankaj teaches theater in different schools, has performed in dance shows in India and abroad as a member of the Astad Deboo Dance Company. He was one of the actor’s in the group that represented India at the Tin Forrest International Theatre Festival organised by National Theatre of Scotland in 2014. Pankaj first became a part of Yuva Ekta through the Summer…
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Summer Theatre Workshops
Khursheed ran away from a broken family when he was 7. After reaching Delhi he lived a life on the streets before being rescued by the Salaam Balak Trust. With Salaam Balak he gets a roof to live and an opportunity to complete his education. He develops an avid interest in theatre and gets associated with our Theatre for Change Program at the age of 13. Since then, he’s gone places. Working currently with the Salaam City-walk Project, he works as a tour guide, taking tourists on a never-before seen side of Old Delhi. He also works with street children using the arts. Khursheed has partnered with us as an actor in street plays and two International Theatre Festivals, The Tin Forest Theatre Festival in 2014 and most recently, the Home/Away Festival in 2016. The Yuva Ekta Summer Theatre workshops were started a decade ago with a need to inspire…
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