Guwahati, Sept. 22: Violinist Sunita Bhuyan, who performed in Rome during Mother Teresa's canonisation early this month, believes music is a powerful form of intervention which increases the feel-good hormones in human body.

With this conviction, Sunita is now on a mission to use music to inspire teachers, academicians, parents and policy makers in the Northeast to fight for social causes, especially helping children in distress.

She believes music as a creative force has the ability to connect with people instantly, thereby, not just enhancing their skills but also reducing their pain and distress.

"My initiation into this started with street kids at Shelter Don Bosco, Wadala, in Mumbai. The children are either victims of drugs or physical abuse. I play tunes on the violin, quizzing them about various things. Once hooked, these children slowly tend to share their joys, sorrows and thoughts not just with me but others too. The main objective of my endeavour is to inculcate the value of discipline and hard work. It is incredible how music makes them want to learn new skills and acquire education. It is making them realise their true potential and work towards it," Sunita told The Telegraph.

Sunita, who had performed in Rome as an ambassador for Joy of Giving project initiated by the Salesian Province of Guwahati, said she would dedicate herself in the coming months to organising a series of orientation programmes on music therapy under Don Bosco Society for large groups of teachers, principals and policy makers in Guwahati, Shillong and some other parts of the Northeast.

"Once we complete the orientation programmes, we will start work with the actual beneficiaries in the pre-Christmas week - the traditional Joy of Giving week. We shall conduct music therapy workshops for all groups of children - less privileged and mainstream - so that along with the therapy we can create an inclusive environment of giving and sharing instead of just trying to give sympathy and help to the needy," she added.

Father V.M. Thomas, the Salesian Provincial of Guwahati who also attended Mother Teresa's canonisation ceremony in Rome, said the Joy of Giving project had been launched to celebrate Mother Teresa's canonisation as a saint and to use the significant occasion to inculcate the benefits and art of giving among all sections of society, starting with schoolchildren, teachers, parents, academia and the socially conscious citizens.

"This giving is not just material. It is about giving your time to those who need it, sharing your knowledge to create awareness, sharing your craft and skills to empower those who are less privileged than us. We launched it in Rome at the Salesian headquarters on September 3 on the eve of Mother's canonisation," he said.