CHITHRA Don Bosco Organizes Two-Day Art, Play, and Vocational Therapy Workshop on Mental Health

On CHITHRA Don Bosco, Chitradurga, in collaboration with BREADS Bengaluru, successfully organized a two-day Art, Play, and Vocational Therapy Workshop on Mental Health for school children at CHITHRA Don Bosco on 15th & 16th June 2026. The programme aimed to promote emotional well-being, creative expression, self-awareness, and social communication skills among children.

Rev. Fr. Felix Serrao, Rector of CHITHRA Don Bosco institutions was the president of the programme. Rev. Fr. Arun Chemplanikal (Director of CHITHRA Don Bosco Social Welfare Society), Mrs.Suneetha (Psychiatric Social Worker of District Mental Health Program, Chitradurga), school teachers inaugurated the programme through the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp.

On 1st Day, session was facilitated by Ms. Rakshitha, Counsellor from the MINDS Programme. She conducted engaging icebreaker activities followed by a drawing exercise titled “My Emotions.” The activity helped children overcome hesitation, encouraged participation, and provided a safe platform for them to express their feelings and emotions through art.

Then Ms. Rashmi, Counsellor from the District Mental Health Programme led the session. She conducted a creative drawing activity on the theme “My Safe Place.” Through this exercise, children reflected on places and experiences that make them feel secure and happy. The activity fostered self-reflection, imagination, and creativity. Participants later shared their drawings and discussed the significance of the colours and symbols they had used, promoting open communication and mutual understanding.

The final session of the day was conducted by Ms. Sunitha, Psychiatric Social Worker of the District Mental Health Programme. She provided valuable insights into the importance of mental health, common mental health challenges faced by children, and their symptoms. She also highlighted essential life skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, empathy, and effective communication. Interactive activities were organized to help children understand and practice these life skills in their daily lives.

Second day, Mr. Divakar V., Coordinator of the MINDS Project took the session. He reviewed the key learnings from the previous day and engaged students in discussions on the importance of mental health, leadership qualities, and effective communication skills.

Then Mrs. Anthony Theresa, Programme and Communication Coordinator of CHITHRA Don Bosco, shared valuable insights on understanding emotions, building self-esteem, developing leadership qualities, and addressing the growing issue of screen addiction among children. Her session encouraged participants to adopt healthy habits and strengthen their self-confidence.

The final session was facilitated by Ms. Rakshitha K., Counsellor from the MINDS Programme. She conducted a variety of games and group activities designed to enhance teamwork, cooperation, and interpersonal skills among the participants. The activities created a joyful learning environment and encouraged children to work together effectively.

A total of 40 students from four different schools actively participated in the workshop.