http://fridaymagazine.ae/features/people/friday-changed-our-lives-1.1333419?fb_action_ids=781859165160612&fb_action_types=og.likes
This Friday my hope was renewed that if we put our heart and mind to some thing it will happen. I hope I can continue making a difference.
“It was while I was participating in such events that I realised that one can help the less fortunate in so many different ways.
“I don’t know how many people I have helped through the sale of my paintings, but if it is even one family then I am happy.”
This Friday my hope was renewed that if we put our heart and mind to some thing it will happen. I hope I can continue making a difference.
Minakhee Mishra, 39, is based
in Karama, Dubai
Putting down her copy of Friday,
Minakhee Mishra was in tears. “It was one of the most moving stories I’d ever
read,” the artist remembers.
She is referring to a feature [May
31, 2013] dealing with Narayanan Krishnan, a chef in a five-star hotel
in Chennai, India, who quit his job to feed and
care for mentally ill people who were living on the streets
of Madurai, in southern India.
“In some ways the story was my tipping point,” she says. “I’d always wanted to do my bit for society, but I didn’t know how to go about it. This story shocked me into action.”
“In some ways the story was my tipping point,” she says. “I’d always wanted to do my bit for society, but I didn’t know how to go about it. This story shocked me into action.”
Mother-of-two Minakhee decided to do
a series of paintings and then auction them off and give the proceeds to
charity.
“I am an ardent reader of Friday
and have been for the past nine years,” she explains. “I find the Making a
Difference section especially motivating – it may sound like a cliché but those
stories really do inspire people to do something for others.” A talented
artist, who has held several exhibitions of her work in Dubai, Minakhee started
on a set of
still life paintings.
“I wanted to use art to raise money
to help needy people such as Syrian refugees or low-paid workers in the UAE so
they could buy some gifts for their families back home, pay for their
children’s education or for specialist medical treatment for those who required
it.
“After reading that moving article
I spoke to a few friends of mine who volunteer for charities
and told them what I was planning to do. They all encouraged me to get going.
They
were sure that my initiative would
be a success.”
Minakhee participated in group shows
at the Ahmedia Gallery in Deira for charity, and also exhibited her work at a
pre-event for a concert by well-known Indian musician Pandit Jasraj.
“At another charity auction to raise
funds for Syrian victims, two of my paintings were sold for Dh2,500 each,” says
Minakhee. “It felt just great to contribute to the cause. I have to thank Friday
for motivating me.”
“I also participated in a live painting session at the Street Night Art
event at Al Quoz in January to help raise money for poor Indian workers in
Dubai. All
the artists who participated painted
on the 2x2m installation
that was put up for auction,” she adds.“It was while I was participating in such events that I realised that one can help the less fortunate in so many different ways.
“I don’t know how many people I have helped through the sale of my paintings, but if it is even one family then I am happy.”
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