THEY TEACH HOW TO LOVE LIFE

In fact, children need very little to be happy. You have to be sincere, kind and slightly childish with them. On 1 June, the world marks International Children's Day - a reminder to society that it is necessary to observe and respect children's rights as a compulsory condition for forming a humane, fair and safe society. Adults should do everything possible to defend children from war, preserve their health, raise them and get them educated - to do everything to make their lives better. But in fact, it is just an entourage of words. In reality, each of us encounters violations of children's rights almost every day. And this happens not just in our country.

Of course, it is good that there is such a day. And it is very good that in 1959, the UN adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which includes articles that urge parents, government agencies, local authorities, governments and non-government organizations to try to observe them. But the declaration had only a recommendatory nature and was not binding. There was a need for other laws that could be enforced and punish offenders. On 20 November 1989, the UN adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was signed by 61 countries, including Azerbaijan. Of course, in order to make sure that little citizens feel comfortable, the state must do everything to make child laws work. But in parallel, each of us should care not just about his own, but also about others' children. Be less indifferent and be more childish.

There are little children's worlds, in which a child always feels good and in which their talents and potential manifest themselves. They can do everything here, there are the creators here, and child fantasies reign here. It was so difficult to put them together to make a group photo - children made fun of each other, made faces, joked and laughed. But at some moment, you start realizing while communicating with them that time has stopped and that you feel easy and joyful in your heart. All this is incredibly natural. This is how joyful the photograph and their life should be. These are children.

What should we write to protect them? Should we write just the usual words and phrases about the terrible statistics of infant mortality in the world, or about violations of their rights? No. We all know about this, and we still allow this to happen. Wouldn't it be better to write about those who really try to make their lives better and subject to some childish explanation? Wouldn't it better to visit children for a couple of hours and talk to them about their dreams? In order to write about children, our R+ correspondent spent these hours at the children's art studio "Seven Bright Butterflies" of the well-known artist and painter who specializes in applied arts, Inna Kostina. We had to catch her little students in a creative search.

"I want to be a pop star…"

Sirin Muradova, a pupil of the Oxford school, is 15 years old. She wants to become an artist, but dreams more of being an architect. She started going to the Seven Bright Butterflies studio quite recently.

"My mother is fond of painting. She attended classes in this studio for some time. I also painted, and my mother advised me to come here. I get carried away with painting so much that I forget about everything."

Sirin diligently painted a tree in winter, trying to depict the seasons of the year. She answered my questions only out of politeness, because she was really carried away with the process of painting. But still I managed to make her talk. Sirin has heard that International Children's Day is marked on 1 June. She has read a lot about this.

"I think that this day was created because children need to be protected all the time and because they are always in danger. They are little and need to be protected. There are a lot of bad things going on in the world and children do not always live well," Sirin said.

Sirin thinks that the state should pay special attention to what she called "very poor children". Some of them "probably also want" to paint, but they have no possibility of going to circles and studios, Sirin said. In her opinion, free painting circles should be created for children from poor families and it is necessary to arrange for them to participate in international competitions.

Narmina Zerynalova, a fifth grade pupil at school No 23, is 11 years old. She has been attending classes in the studio for two years. She knows that she has an artistic talent, but despite that, she is decisive to become a pop singer. She thinks that she has all the makings of a good singer, and she is convinced that International Children's Day is a real holiday.

"I've seen on television that festivities and marches are organized for children in other countries. It would be very good if this day became a world holiday, like 8 March, and if everything was given to children free on this day. I would like this holiday to be celebrated in a very cheerful way in our country." Narmina thinks it necessary to help children, especially talented children, with everything. "For example, in our school, children who study well are sent to Paris, London and Moscow. This is very good. To this end, you need to pass a general test on all subjects." For this reason, Narmina also dreams of passing the general test and seeing Paris.

Gulara Nabiyeva, a first grade pupil at school No 160, is eight years old. She has attended the studio for almost a year. "I love painting, and I also love making figures with plasticine and watching cartoons. I will probably become an artist. But I also want to be a designer. There is a TV programme which shows people refurbishing their home. Then it becomes so beautiful. My mum told me that designers are working there, and I want to do it too."

She has a vague idea about International Children's Day. After a little explanation, Gulara paints a children's house and says: "All children have to feel good, all children have to be happy and all children have to have mums and dads." Everything is so simple and easy.

Nuray Rustamova, a fifth grade pupil from the school "Istedad, 21st Century", is 10 years old. She has painted since she was four. She has attended classes in the studio for seven years. She loves reading fairy tales, collects labels, pens and pencils, but she thinks her best collection is puppets in Azerbaijani national costume.

"I want to become a fashion designer or a painting teacher. I love painting landscapes. Now I paint four pictures a day. On my mum's birthday, I gave her her own portrait."

Nuray is very modest and was very shy while talking about herself. We learnt from Inna Kostina that she has an impressive collection of painting certificates and diplomas. Inna Kostina proudly told us about her pupil. Nuray is a high achiever and also attends national dance lessons.

"Children should probably be protected not just on International Children's Day," Nuray said after thinking.

Bahram Yaradanquliyev, a sixth form pupil from the school "Istedad, 21st Century", is 11 years old. He has attended the studio for four years. Bahram can paint anything. The boy admitted that one of his favourite things is to watch paintings by well-known painters such as Goya and Rembrandt. "I love classics. I copy pictures in order to learn to paint like great painters. But my painting teacher does not approve of this. She says that I must be myself and create pictures on the basis of my own fantasies. Of course, it is more difficult to paint on location."

Bahram loves reading very much. He collects sea shells. The boy proudly said that he has collected 220 shells and that he has corals and a big starfish. He has not yet made up his mind to become a painter. "I don't know - if it is difficult for me, I won't be a painter. But actually, I want to practice Wushu."

Bahram has already had his first personal exhibition, and in his age group, he has repeatedly won children's competitions held by the Union of Painters. He also has a lot of certificates and various diplomas. But he treats his success quietly and simply does what he likes to do - painting.

"I think that if adults allow children to do what they want, they will be quite happy. If we talk seriously, I want to wish peace and kindness to children."

It is not easy to talk to children, because it is very difficult to put the rapid flow of their thoughts, words and ideas in an orderly "adult" manner. Diplomas, exhibitions and many attributes of adult ambitions do not mean anything to them yet. They are interesting and ingenuous, and they are natural and are not afraid to say what they think. Everything is easy and simple in the world. To be oneself is a luxury which we, adults, always strive for, but lose bit by bit with every passing day. Have we really been so little as well?

Children teach a lot

Inna Kostina has been working with children since 1995. The studio Seven Bright Butterflies was set up in 1995 under the aegis of the Union of Painters of Azerbaijan.

"We gave it this name because at the moment of its establishment, there were seven children in it. Every child is a bright individuality, and we thought that this should be reflected in the name of the group. In the course of time, the group expanded and now has 30 children of various age categories. We accept children from the age of six and onwards, and even every adult is a child deep down. In any case, if an adult keeps the child in his heart, everything will be good in his life," the painter is sure.

What does a present-day child need? Inna Kostina thinks that like always, a child needs the love of his family, light, warmth and mutual understanding. "Different children from different families with a different intellectual level come here. My principle is that all children are talented, and I am trying to work with each of them. A child needs to be given a chance to express himself. At the same time, I favour contact with parents, so that they tell me what fears their child has and what sort of stress and problems he has experienced. But the most important thing is that the atmosphere in our group is very friendly. All the children feel comfortable here, show their qualities and help each other. The studio Seven Bright Butterflies is international. It has had about 100 children throughout its period of existence. We have had German, Italian, French and Turkish children here. We have had children who spoke neither Russian nor Azerbaijani, but they felt very comfortable in our team."

Currently, the building of the Union of Painters is being refurbished. During this time, the group Seven Bright Butterflies has been based at the Rustam Ibrahimbayov Theatre Ibrus. Its director is Lala Afandiyeva. And this is a good will gesture aimed not just at helping the Union of Painters. This is also a demonstration of true love for children.

"We are very grateful to the chairman of the Union of Painters, Farhad Xalilov, and the whole team for supporting this group all the time. I think that International Children's Day is a good occasion to urge people who work with children in our country to organize even more children's exhibitions, which would allow young talents to be discovered. A lot of children's exhibitions and competitions are held in Azerbaijan, but we would like more. There is a presidential programme to support children in our country, but we would like to expand it. Those who are working on this should see people more often, visit various studios, not just institutes and specialized schools, and select children themselves, because we have a whole sea of good and talented children."