Help our local partners realise their vision of hope for their communities
4 May 2016
1st Prize Winner – ‘Freedom Matters’, a documentary by Pankhuri Agarwal & The Storygraphers
“‘Freedom Matters’ is an attempt to answer the problem of human trafficking and slavery in India. It features Nobel Peace Laureate 2014 Dr Kailash Satyarthi, besides other eminent activists and researchers in the field.
Directed in association with an Indian production house, The Storygraphers, it takes the viewer through a journey of hope and inspiration amidst the grave reality of the crime by answering the following questions – what is human trafficking and slavery? Why should we be bothered about it? How do we perpetuate this? What action can we take? It shows simple steps that each one us, irrespective of our educational or professional background, can take against this menace.” – Pankhuri Agarwal & The Storygraphers
2nd Prize Winner – ‘A long walk to Democracy’ by Mona Yapova
“I travelled to Burma in December 2015, hoping to meet and talk with locals about their past.
Instead of this, I only heard of their dreams and hopes for the future. I will never forget Mr
Sue, an elderly man who took me on a walk to the Yangon University and said: “Please take a
photograph, and bring it home with you. Show it to your friends, your family and fellow
students. Tell them our university is open again, and that our students are ready to unite
with you.” Inspired by the outcome of the debatably quasi-democratic general elections this
November, this painting is a portrait of Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, hopefully leading Burma out of
dark times, with the light of her spirit and an elegance of which flowers are the eternal
symbol. I decided to address Burma’s still ongoing fight for democracy with a portrait of
hope and courage.” – Mona Yapova
3rd Prize Winner – ‘Home’ by Afiqah Adnan
“This is a poem that tells the story of a Rohingya mother and child who are attempting to flee Burma, and end up stranded on a boat in the middle of the Andaman Sea.” – Afiqah Adnan
Home by Afiqah Adnan
Salt, sweat, sea
Air so thick he can barely breathe
Chest tightening, throat choking
Yet this is the closest he’s been to being free
He’s small hands clung on to the rope
For dear life, for hope
Those small hands
Once soft with innocence
Are now rough with experience
Abuse and violence
The calluses cry of hard labour
The scars scream of terror
Clutching the rope for hope
But the horror is far from over
Left right front centre
Huddled tight, squashed together
As the waves gave another slap
The floor beneath him gave another leap
Those fearful eyes looked to mummy
Begging, screaming with anxiety
“Mummy what’s happening”
“Mummy why’s the floor moving”
“Mummy can we go home”
“Please can we go home”
“Home.”
Those fearful innocent eyes looked deep
Into a pair of beautiful brown ones.
Tired. Afraid. Beaten.
She looked around and was heartbroken
People like her
Same faith, language, skin colour
People with dreams, hopes, ambition
All looked like death, their souls broken
For how can the free soul of a seagull
Be trapped in this tiny little hull
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide
Neither wants to receive them on each side
“Home.”
Those weary eyes gave a smile
To little one’s, twinkling in the moonlight
Her arms around the child, cuddling him tight
Those arms giving warmth and protection
Were the same ones a sign of resilience
With scars like brush strokes on canvas
Each telling a story, with each a past
The day she lost a brother to a mob
The day she got abused and robbed
And the day her family perished
When they burnt her home down
Was the day she decided
She had to leave town
“Home.”
Those weary eyes shut
Her words were tied in a knot
A tear glistened at the thought
Where is home, she is conflicted
If in her birth-land she’s not accepted
For if a state leaves her stateless
Is her state worse than a homeless?
What is she? Where is she heading?
She prays to God with all her heart
Please just keep her going
With the Andaman finally calming
The boat slowly rocking
She pursed her lips
And started humming
She hugged the child tighter
And brought him closer
In his ears she began to whisper
“Home is neither far nor near
Be it on land
Or here in middle of the sea