Launched during the coronavirus outbreak, two teenagers, Shreya Chandrasekhar and Pooja Bhatia, studying at Dubai International Academy, took on the initiative of forming a platform – Beyond Art- creating a range of products that blend in art and sustainability.
Due to financial losses, lack of access (for some students) to computers continue with online education, the duo, working alongside Dubai Cares, set out on a mission to help raise funds for students’ IT devices.
Shreya Chandrasekhar, 17, says: “We decided that we wanted to do something to spread positivity and help raise the spirits of the people around us. That something turned out to be art, a form of creativity that is extremely close to our hearts.”
Shreya Chandrasekhar: Founder of Beyond Art
The initiative engaged these young students’ artistic skills to create a variety of products such as keychains, bookmarks, coasters, and bags.
An environmentalist in the making, Pooja Bhatia 17, says: “We hoped to promote creativity within our audience and sustainability through our products as they are all eco-friendly and reusable.”
A successful venture that sold their entire production of sustainable artwork raised over AED 1300, which the pair donated to ‘Education Uninterrupted- a nationwide fundraising campaign that tackles the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the children’s and youth’s education in the UAE.
Pooja Bhatia: Founder of Beyond Art
Passionate about the Global Water Crisis and The Education for Nature Program, Ms. Chandrasekhar explains their choice of working with this campaign: “As students who have luxuries others don’t and access to much technological equipment, we were at a loss of words when we found out that so many students had to stop school since they did not have the necessary technology to attend their calls.”
Working under the country’s appropriate guidelines and laws proved to be a challenge whilst also balancing their school work. However, these setbacks did not hinder their spirits, and they found themselves painting until two AM some nights.
An enthusiast for painting and drawing mandalas, Pooja adds: “If there was something we had to do differently, we would probably try to manage our time better. We also would have increased the number of coasters and jute bags because those were most in demand.”
Ms. Chandrasekhar concludes: “Education is the basic right of every individual, and I believe when something so uncertain and devastating happens, it is our responsibility to take control and do what we can to help each other while being safe.”
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