Children from SOS Children’s Villages India lead street plays to spark community awareness and inspire community action across the nation

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, JULY 14, 2025

In a powerful drive to foster community engagement across India’s villages, towns, and metro cities, children from SOS Children’s Villages India, who are part of Bal Panchayats, are taking to the streets with compelling performances that champion child rights and development. Through vibrant street plays, these young change-makers are raising awareness about the pivotal role families and communities play in nurturing the holistic growth of children. These plays are an integral part of SOS India’s flagship Family Strengthening Programme (FSP), which emphasizes child development through community outreach.

Since the early 1990s, children supported under the FSP have been scripting and performing short skits on pressing social issues within their own communities. From 2010 onwards, these performances have evolved into a vital component of the programme, becoming a creative and impactful platform to promote informed parenting and active community participation. These plays not only inform but also inspire — urging adults to foster a supportive, inclusive, and nurturing environment essential for the cognitive, emotional, and social well-being of children. The initiative aligns seamlessly with the core mission of SOS Children’s Villages India — ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, caring, and loving environment.

Sumanta Kar, CEO of SOS Children’s Villages India, stated, “We believe that when children are empowered to express themselves, they become catalysts for change. For over a decade, our Family Strengthening Programme has nurtured Bal Panchayats in creatively leveraging street theatre to voice challenges around child rights, education, climate change, and safety. These performances are far more than theatrical acts; they’re platforms for active participation — entirely child-led, from scripting to staging. Children speak for children, and this peer-to-peer format is designed to fuel their overall development.”

These performances are conducted across all locations in India where SOS Children’s Villages India operates its Family Strengthening Programme. Held quarterly or bi-quarterly, each play runs between 15 to 30 minutes and typically involves 10 to 20 children who manage everything — from acting and emceeing to behind-the-scenes logistics.

Thematically, the plays revolve around eight major areas: child rights and protection, education for all, health and hygiene, child marriage prevention, child labour, gender equality, climate change, and the perils of substance abuse and domestic violence. FSP teams collaborate closely with Bal Panchayats to orient children on chosen themes, guiding them through script development, talent identification, role assignments, rehearsals, mock runs, and finally the community performances. Community mobilisers and group leaders proactively invite local residents through door-to-door visits and public announcements, with each play attracting audiences of 100–150 people. These grassroots performances have not only sparked conversations but also catalyzed tangible action — from road repairs to sanitation improvements — by drawing the attention of ward and panchayat leaders.

“Each play becomes a turning point — not only for the children but for the entire community,” added the CEO. “We’ve seen a surge in engagement across all our programme locations, with each performance delivering messages of resilience, equity, and dignity. This initiative is a living embodiment of our mission: to help every child grow with the love and support they need to become their strongest selves. These plays are proof that when children are given a platform, they don’t just raise their voices — they spark transformation.”

More than just performances, these plays serve a dual purpose: empowering children with confidence, leadership skills, and creative expression while educating and sensitizing communities about critical issues. The performances have led to increased school enrolments, greater community support for Bal Panchayats, and an overall shift from awareness to collective action. By turning dialogue into development, SOS Children’s Villages India is helping children become torchbearers of change and resilience, ensuring that the seeds of social transformation are sown from the grassroots up.