Chrysallis Center

Changing the lives of challenged children

The Chrysallis Performance Arts Center for the Challenged, launched the second phase of  ‘The Chrysalis Power of One - Know your Special Friend’, a nationwide campaign to make the public aware of the need to encourage children with and without challenges to study and play together. Generally in school, children with challenges do go to special institutions, but when they finish their board exams and go to college, they suddenly experience the challenge of interacting with other children.

Diana Tholoor, the founder of Chrysalis Performance Arts Center for the Challenged, Bangalore said,” We are dedicating our eighth year to the integration of children with and without challenges. Our outreach program, which began with 20 children from the challenged sector, today caters to 5,000 children. Chrysallis is an integrated platform that frees their spirits”.

The center organized three events – Chrysallis integrated classroom simulation program, examination of placards made by children with and without challenges and motorbike rides.

The campaign came alive at Mount Carmel College, where 250 children made colourful placards. “Our campaign integrated over 1500 children who have created amazing visuals on special friendships. These placards are their voices for peer acceptance and illustrated their concepts of integration and special friendships,” said Diana Tholoor.

The Chrysallis volunteer motorcycle rider, Prashanth H. Pillai will ride 18,000 kms across the nation to create awareness on the special challenges facing such children. The rider described the campaign as “a great opportunity to make inclusive education a reality”. Indian Oil Corporation is the major sponsor for the nationwide ride.