Mumbai: Daya Naidu is a huge fan of South Indian superstar Rajnikanth.
A student of LKYG Matunga School, Mumbai, Daya says he started smoking following Rajnikanth's style. "This is Rajnikant's style. He's my boss," he says.
What does it take to say no to tobacco, especially if you are a teenager and smoking is a cool thing to do?
Salaam Bombay Foundation, an NGO committed to preventing tobacco intake among children, reaches out to children and 11,000 children from municipal schools across Mumbai have responded to their call.
"Children are the most effective way of communicating with other children," says Director Salaam Bombay, Padmini Somani.
Hundreds of children came together to breathe life and some fresh air into the campaign through posters, plays and even music.
So much so that singer and composer Raghav Sachar, who was there to judge the participants and who himself plays 24 instruments, had to catch his breath to keep up with their ingenuity.
"Being a player of wind instruments, I myself keep away from tobacco. It's very nice that children are being taught awareness in this creative way," says Sachar.
Daya Naidu joined the anti-tobacco mission and has kicked his habit. Now, he is a young actor on a mission and has directed a play for the campaign.
"I want to take my play to every area, to both the young and the old and spread the word," says Daya.
This is a perfect example of children standing up for children and saying no to tobacco in one voice.
It is not just about awareness and advocacy, but also about compassion.
Comments
0 comment