It was PTM time again. The reason for this PTM being so close to the previous one, was that the children are beginning their exams on the 14th and will be busy till early next month. As usual it was a pleasure to see them smiling and happy and full of stories to tell.
We spent some time sharing their world. It is amazing how easy it is to forget one’s troubles and woes, albeit briefly, and revel in tales of missing shoes and stolen goodies. We of course could not resist adult pontificating about the virtues of sharing and the wisdom of looking after one’s possessions. Adults will be adults! But all in all we did spend some quality time being kids again and thus recharged our own batteries. It was a wonderful moment. We left the children with ample goodies and lots of hugs.
The ride back was as always spent in silence. Moments like these are precious and rare and need to be savoured and enjoyed to the fullest. Yet slowly, the mind started traveling back and forth and images of what is, what could have been and what will perhaps be began spilling over. Each of these incredible kids could easily have been living a life of despair. Was not Babli the very little girl who barely three years ago sat on cart selling tobacco and biscuits? And Vicky the babe in arms in a family struggling to survive? And little Utpal would have easily been the scalded child begging at a street corner to pay for his parent’s daily dose of hooch? yes all this could have happened had not the God of lesser beings decided otherwise and set his incredible miracle making machine to work. Angels of shade and hues appeared from across the universe and set to create the enabling conditions needed to transform the lives of these children. And in no time everything fell in place. Today these children are busy making up for lost time and reclaiming their lost childhood. And as for what tomorrow holds, only the God of lesser beings knows. All we can say is that anything is possible.
As these thoughts crowded my mind, my heart filled with a deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to all those who made it all happen and above all to the God of lesser beings who has over the years always walked with us and shown us the way.
Share a few moments of this wonderful and blessed morning
Yesterday was teacher’s day. The children in the special section decided to celebrate it by becoming teachers. The pupils were Shamika, Prabin, Saraswati, Manikala and our sunshine girl Kiran. All the children turned up in their Sunday best and took their role very seriously. It did nit matter whether was written on the white board was nothing more than a scribble, or that the instructions given may have sounded like gibberish to many, the teacher’s of the day took their task very seriously.
Questions were asked and students were encouraged and applauded. It was amazing to see how these very special kids had over time taken note of each and every gesture of their teachers and how well they were replicating them. At first glance when you see these children you may be tempted to write them off but give them a chance and you will see wonders. Watching them was fantastic and moving. How often we brush aside kids who do not look or act like us, not taking time to enter their world and try and understand them. Yesterday they entered our world and showed us how well they had grasped it albeit in their own way. Way to go kids!
Little Radha never ceases to amaze us. In spite of her brittle bones and her useless legs she is the most independent child I have seen. She participates in each and every game, dances and even jumps around. True she evolves her own ways some quite stunning as her way of drinking water!
Radha is a true survivor. Her zest for life is infectious. Her thirst for knowledge is overwhelming. It is as if she wants to pack all she can in her truncated life, as if she knows that time is short. Watching her is uplifting and heart wrenching.
Vineel is a new student in the creche. He was born without forearms, his hands awkwardly stuck to his elbow making it quasi impossible for him to do simple tasks like hold a pencil to write or pull down his shorts to go the loo. If he falls, he hurts his nose or face as his arms cannot reach out to break the fall.
Vineel is a bright and intelligent child who wants to be just like his pals and tries to do everything the others do as best he can. In spite of it being the first day in school and in spite of the tears that kept welling from time to time, Vineel did us proud as he danced and played with his new pals.
One may wonder what Vineel’s morrows will hold. He has all it needs to go to a regular school and yet will he be accepted. No one knows. It is certain that Vineel will need help and special care, something a government and even a private school may not be able to offer. He will have to be helped in some tasks and above all will have to be protected from the sometimes cruel remarks and actions of his peers. His small handicap should not shut the doors of a sound education and yet one fears for him.
We will in the next year try and make him as independent as possible by evolving ways in which he can do the simple everyday tasks that will be asked of him as he grows. We will try and build his confidence to help him face what lies ahead. Vineel deserves the best and we will make sure he gets it.
There is a buzz in the air. In a little town in Spain another book sale is organised by our dear friends Irene, Andy and Mike; in Singapore the Indian Women’s Association organises and NGO Forum and project why is one of the featured organisations. The project is presented by our dear friend Kim Hoh who hates speaking in public and yet overcomes his distaste and gives a voice to the hopes and dreams of 800 children. A supporter launches a campaign that aims at setting up a library for project why. Our world our stories is a new initiative where you simply click to join the cause and we get a step closer to our library. Project why is in the air! Wow! Wonder what we did to deserve this.
I must confess that the past few weeks have been rather grim. News of donors pulling back recession oblige, delays in securing funds for our ambitious yet needed sustainability programme, and more of the same had made spirits sink low. And then just as I was trying to kick start myself again, project why was in the air. All these wonderful initiatives that made me once again believe that notwithstanding obstacles, hope prevailed and all would be well.
It let my thoughts travel back in time and as memories were resurrected I realised how over the years project why had survived and thrived thanks to the good will of people the world over who almost miraculously appeared when things looked dark and scary. It was almost as if the God of lesser beings was sending us messages in his own inimitable way. The messages were always subtle almost ethereal: a child sending her pocket money, someone giving up birthday gifts, another wedding presents, someone organising a bake sale.. small gestures of hope and love that make us believe in what we are doing and gives us the strength to carry on.
Sunday was PTM day for our little foster care kids. This was the first PTM since school opened. For the past week there had been a flurry of activity to prepare for D day. All the parents had to be informed and plans made. It was decided that the parents of all our four kids: Babli, Vicky, Nikhil and Aditya would pool resources and hire a car. Every one was excited.
On Sunday morning they all set out bright and early for what was to be a very special day. After meeting the kids it was time to meet the teachers. Everyone was thrilled to see the results and even more so as Babli and Vicky had stood second in their respective classes. Report cards were collected and then the children showed the school to their proud parents: the dorm, the dining hall and the play grounds. The excitement was palpable and the pride in the children’s and parents eyes was for all to see.
A set of incredible circumstances enabled these four children and their little pal Utpal to break the circle of poverty and a life in the slums and accede to a good education, the kind you would give your child. This is nothing short of a miracle. Had they been left where they supposedly belonged, most of them would not have completed their school, and even run the risk of becoming child labour. It almost happened with Babli! And that time no one would have believe that the same little girl would one day be in a boarding school happily building her morrows. And yet that is exactly what she is doing today with her little pals.
After the grand tour it was time for a little outing to a nearby park. There was a surprise in store for the children: the moms had packed loads of home made food for their children and everyone had an impromptu picnic. Then the happy party returned to school to share lunch with the children in the dining hall. A grad moment for all. Soon it was time to leave an say bye till the next time.
You can share some glimpses of this very special day
It was PTM time again. The reason for this PTM being so close to the previous one, was that the children are beginning their exams on the 14th and will be busy till early next month. As usual it was a pleasure to see them smiling and happy and full of stories to tell.
