Kensington Artist Raising Money For School Working With Impoverished Children In India
Erica Harris, an artist based in Kensington, let us know that she is returning to Varanasi, India for an art residency this winter and will be working with one of her “favorite places in the world,” Buddha’s Smile School – which brings free education and meals to more than 200 children, most of whom live in area slums and villages in the country’s northern region.
In order to raise money for projects at the school, as well as to offset her travel expenses, Erica is enlisting the help of customers at her Etsy site. All proceeds from any purchase of artwork on the site from now until September 15 will help fund projects at Buddha’s Smile School, as well as go towards the neighbor’s voyage.
The community has previously backed Erica’s trips to India, and you can see photos of some of the projects neighbors helped make possible at the school here and here.
According to the Buddha’s Smile School website, the facility believes “that primary education is the first step in breaking the endemic cycle of poverty and caste- based discrimination.”
From the website:
At Buddha’s Smile School, ‘untouchable’ children are not just educated – they are taught to dream. Here, in a structured and caring learning environment, children not only learn, but discover that they are not condemned to walk in their parent’s footsteps, that the shackles can be broken.
Buddha’s Smile School serves children from local slums and villages in north India, delivering primary education with love, care, and motivation since 2003.
We understand that education goes beyond classroom learning, requiring play and discovery. We teach music, crafts, and drawing and offer short summer courses in dance for the students to discover and develop their talents. Unlike typical schools in India, we foster an atmosphere of love, kindness, and healing.
Images via Erica Harris’ Facebook and her website.