By Prishanta Neha Sharma

School holidays became a little more colourful for a group of children in Suva, as they picked up paintbrushes and turned ordinary bottles into their own works of art.

The children took part in a five-day creative workshop organised by the High Commission of India, with support from the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, University of Fiji and Suva Multicultural Centre.

The final day of the workshop was held on 31 August at the YWCA Building in Suva, where the children explored bottle painting.

With paint, brushes and plenty of imagination, the young participants were given the freedom to create their own designs and experiment with different colours.

For some, it was also an opportunity to make new friends and try something they had never done before.

Ezekiel Kwong-wah, a student of Yat Sen Secondary School, was taking part in the activity for the first time.

 “I enjoyed looking at all the bottle paints that everyone did and I also enjoyed painting with some of my friends and I also got to know some new people,” Ezekiel said.

The workshop also allowed parents to take part in the experience by watching their children explore their creativity and develop their own ideas through art.

Shaleshni Devi participated in the workshop with her two children, Saanvi and Kiaan who are students of Rishikul Primary School.

“I really enjoyed myself and with my kids. We had a good bonding with other parents as well,” said Shaleshni.

She believes more workshops like this should be organised in the future, giving children more opportunities to learn through creativity.

The workshop offered a simple lesson that creativity can be found in even the most ordinary objects.