Breaking Barriers with Art: The Story of "Together We Create"

Two days ago, a young boy in class 4, the son of one of AvaCreations' weavers, came by the workshop with a troubling story. He explained that, in his school, a subtle divide had started to grow among his classmates and even older students. They’d split into two groups—those who ate pork and those who didn’t. What might seem like an innocent distinction had quietly become a reflection of religious differences, creating invisible walls between the children. They stopped playing together, choosing only to stay with their own “group.”

Hearing this broke our hearts. These were children, far too young to carry such divides. And yet, explaining that they didn’t need to separate in this way wouldn’t work—a lecture wouldn’t reach them, and complex topics like this would feel heavy and confusing.

That’s when Anu Mandal, the founder of AvaCreations, had an idea. Rather than talk about differences, she would create a way for the children to work together on something joyful and fun. She called it the “Together We Create” initiative. Her plan was simple: the children themselves would organize a drawing competition, bringing their classmates together around a shared love of art.

The kids jumped at the idea, immediately going door-to-door, inviting everyone to join. Today, the competition was held, and the room buzzed with excitement. Armed with just pencils and erasers, they all started drawing, using simple video tutorials to inspire their sketches. As they focused on their drawings, the things that had separated them—who ate what, or what group they were in—faded into the background.

In the end, the children formed their own judging panel, carefully selecting the winners and awarding first, second, and third prizes. What was remarkable was not just the art they created but the bond that grew between them during the event. They forgot the differences they had felt just days ago, united by a shared experience and the simple joy of creating together.

Seeing how powerful this initiative was, Anu decided it would continue. From now on, every Sunday, the children would come together for an activity under “Together We Create”—whether it’s drawing, singing, extempore speeches, or dancing. Each gathering will be a chance to remember what they share rather than what separates them, building friendships and understanding that will last a lifetime.