Kids who lived on streets cycle for those who still do

Not long ago, these visitors to the city from Bangalore lived on the streets and did odd jobs to survive.

Not long ago, these visitors to the city from Bangalore lived on the streets and did odd jobs to survive. Chance brought them to an art school in Bangalore, to a life less harsh. Now, they are on their way to Pakistan and are travelling to Lahore, on bicycles. The aim is to spread a message that will bring a better life for more children like themselves.

The bicycle campaigners are now camping in Pune city. Their message: 8220;war economy8221; is fuelling 8220;child labour economy8221; and both India and Pakistan are doing the same, by spending more on defence and wars.

8220;All these children who once lived on the streets are now carrying a message to children of Pakistan about non-violence and rejection of war. In any war, children are affected the most,8221; said John Devaraj, a Bangalore-based artist, who runs an art school for street children and is now taking them to Lahore.

8220;We8217;ll be travelling to Dandi in a few days and will make salt like the Mahatma did, again to embrace non-violence,8221; he said.

All these children have a tragic past, a life of abuse and being subjected to violence being common to all their stories. Juanita, who took the name after an artist, was a domestic help in Gujarat. She was abused by her employers who tried to force her into marriage. 8220;I escaped, begged, lived in some hostels, then found my way to John8217;s school. Now I learn ballet, art, dance and theatre,8221; Juanita 19 said.

Frieda, also 19, once worked in a silk factory in Salem. Gaja,10, from Bihar, was sold by his family; Jairam, 20, worked in a restaurant and was once jailed for stealing bullets for scrap value; Satish, 12, was a 8220;child soldier8221; in Chhattisgarh.

On Sunday evening, they staged a street show to spread their message. On Monday morning, they will interact with children of Bhojwani School and present another play. The group is expected to reach Lahore on November 27. Only some of them will be able to enter Pakistan, through the Wagah border though, because of visa problems .