You get an eye sore when you happen to look at walls of old buildings as they are often plagued by posters, spit marks and other disgusting waste.
Residents don’t do much about it nor do the authorities. Shivkumar and his wife Umamaheshwari used to see the same opposite their home in Mandaveli. Soon they decided to take matters into their own hands. They repainted the wall and brought it back to its glory.
“Once we did it, word spread,” recalls Shivkumar. “Our friends and neighbours wanted to help us out.” As the numbers swelled, the couple decided to start a Trust called Karam Korpom.
The foundation has a team of volunteers consisting of social activists, working professionals, artists and students. According to its website, Stop Abusing Public Spaces (SAPS) is its flagship activity, where the abused public spaces are identified, cleaned up with the help of conservatory workers and then wall art is carried out with the local community participation along with the help from their volunteers. Till now, they have completed over 20 projects covering many localities from Parry’s to Porur.
“We have over 50 volunteers,” says Shivkumar. “School students actively participate.” He adds that they have a very active social media page where they keep updating about new projects. Recently the German consulate contacted them.
“They wanted to do an awareness campaign among students on water conservation,” recalls Shivkumar, “We suggested them that students should be involved throughout the campaign. Hence, we eventually organised a drawing competition in a school.”
He adds whatever theme that came up in the competition where used to paint the walls of the school. Talk about two birds with one stone!
Likewise, at RA Puram, they repainted the walls of a corporation school. “Children who take part often talk about it with their parents,” says Shivkumar. “They tell them that they should do this in their locality too. This is really satisfying to hear.”
The foundation gets funding from several like-minded organisation and well wishers who provide them paints and other tools.
Karam Korpom soon aims to repaint a slum community. For details visit, karamkorpom.org or contact 98840 32182.