Day 25th August 2012, and the entire VEDANTA KHUSHI team was fully geared-up to meet the children of Malla Talai.
Sanjay, Shiva, Vishal, Mukesh, Kalu, Kajal, Madhu, Ganga, Anjali, Manisha, Kali, Pooja, Jamuna, Raj, Suman, Chootu, Chooti, I can keep naming them as by now I can identify a lot many children. We were now sure that the number of children attending the workshop will increase and so we had taken those precautions in our preparations.
Kalu Ram, our contact, called us to inform that children are all getting ready and taking bath and brushing teeth. Some of them have even got their clothes ironed. The message as well received by the children and they kept their promise.
VEDANTA KHUSHI’s 9 volunteers reached the place exactly as decided and were just thrilled to see the loud welcome noise of wishes and sound echoing.. “Sir Aaa Gaye” (Sir has come). The place was already cleaned up. We counted the children, as expected, they were more, and the figure was touching 125. We divided the children into two groups, children below 3 years and children from 3-15 years. Once done the volunteers checked their hygiene and almost 80% of the children had bath, brushed teeth and had combed their hair.
Trust me, children are children, it was difficult to identify them once they followed simple hygienic principles. No matter where they are borne, but when you look at them, they are as true as any other child.
Once the children were seated on the mats, it was time to speak to them on one to one basis. Asking about what they like and dislike, have they ever gone to school, which film they have seen recently, about their parents, their brother-sister and many such questions. What we could gather was that some studied for some time but the school did not support their interest. Rest never bothered as their parents never took interest. Some were keen to continue but the facilities are not there. When we asked their parents, the only reply we got was that they need a school around their vicinity which can keep the children interest alive. Moving forward, amazingly, the youths and the parents, particularly the mothers of children, had almost cordoned the area. Their support showed they had a lot of interest in this activity which was being conducted first time in their locality. And children were on the top of their joy. We had brought with us a colouring book and also wax colours for every child. Their excitement had no boundaries. The VEDANTA KHUSHI volunteers explained them about the colouring and also what they needed to do.
Colours reflect your imagination and also your skills. When one draws a painting or colours a picture, the choice of colours reflect the mind and hand coordination the determination of achieving that success. This is the reason we chose this medium for the workshop.
But before the distribution, children were asked to conduct a prayer – Vande Mataram was their favourite. They sang on top of their voice.. but only two lines kept repeating.. I understood rest of the prayer was not known to them. It was time to now sit and colour the pictures and the pin-drop silence took us for a surprise again. Children were quietly colouring the pictures. In between they came and asked for the choice of the colours and that are they doing alright. The entire volunteers had got themselves placed with the children and holding their hand helped them finish a nice work.
Surprisingly, the batch below 3 years was not less. No fights and only picture painting was going on. The parents of these children also sat with them and started helping them holding their hand.
For one day, may be for few hours, we could give them that much needed respect and attention, they always lacked but deserved. Our attention brought a much needed confidence in them. Their body language and communication had become easy and acceptable.
Surprisingly, the batch below 3 years was not less. No fights and only picture painting was going on. The parents of these children also sat with them and started helping them holding their hand.
For one day, may be for few hours, we could give them that much needed respect and attention, they always lacked but deserved. Our attention brought a much needed confidence in them. Their body language and communication had become easy and acceptable.
See the pictures on the blog www.khushi-creatinghappiness.blogspot.in to believe the magic in their hands. These children virtually copied the original picture. Each and every picture was a master-piece and all had that enthusiasm to be better than the other. Girls took away the credit this time as well. The hidden talent was no more hidden, it was a treasure.
VEDANTA KHUSHI noticed, there were quite a few who were more than interested in completing the colouring and kept the fruits on wait. The workshop lasted for 3 hours on 25th August 2012 and it was time to leave. We too felt it hard to leave as much these children felt it hard to let VEDANTA KHUSHI go. With some tears, some hands holding our hands, we could hear as many voices, SIR, PLEASE OPEN OUR SCHOOL, WE WANT TO STUDY (Sir, hamara school khulwa digiye, hume padhna hai).
VEDANTA KHUSHI does not want to stop here and have some plans for them. The Part-II of the story ends here and the final part would be uploaded next.
KHUSHI - Care for the Underprivileged Children in India
really great exprience
ReplyDeleteHow the Child Welfare Committee- Department of Social justice and Empowernment = Udaipur District constitueted under JJ Act can be useful for Khushi Programme for the welfare and benifit of underprivieleged Children age upto 18 years can be helpful
DeleteMember CWC Udaipur District
9828121564
Watching such pleasant smiles is itself a good feeling for soul.GREAT WORK INDEED.....
ReplyDeleteDear Pavan
ReplyDeleteThis is really a yeomen service,which comes from the heart and the results are best felt when one gets joy that we are able to contribute to Nation Building.
A selfless dedication always gets rewarded when all of us get motivated to also participate in such activities to be of service to our brethren who have not been so fortunate.
Excellent motivation is being generated by you.
With best wishes
A very good initiative! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI have a suggestion .... if Vedanta could manage a survey of the nearby villages, it can easily identify a pool of talents who can be adopted, groomed and trained in one or two sports of their interest. In this process we can even produce Vedanta brand Olimpians!!
Sunny George