I live in New Delhi where at-least 50% of working population (I just made up that data) are not born here. People come from all parts of the country to work here. This city is national capital of India, but yet lacks some basic structural arrangement.
We have ministries here, defense head quarters, offices of big Multi-nationals, Townships, big markets and malls. But still there are people sleeping on side of roads. Often neglected and sometimes accused.
Well this blog is not about Delhi or Business and Govt offices. this blog is about Intelligent Freak events visit to Street children's home.
On 1st September a group of around 50 people gathered together at Umeed Sneha Ghar. A shelter for street kids below 18 years age.
We floated the idea of jamming and distributing sweets for Orphans and street kids. Any kind of donation was welcome, be it money, food or stationary.
Response was amazing. A lot of people were interested in being a part of such noble cause.
This was not the first time I.F.E had taken up such an initiative. In 2012 I.F.E had done similar event at Manav mandir gurukul. A Orphanage where some odd 50 kids live.
So all set for spending a day with street kids we left our home. There was one common thought in every participants mind. "We are going to help and bring smile on face of few kids"
Trust me all were wrong because it came out to be other way round.
It was a bit hot that day and not to forget a Sunday too. Not so jolly mood on our faces but yes a determination to do something for kids. So with different images and perspective we entered Umeed Sneha Ghar.
We entered the campus and after crossing their play field we reached the corridors where in hall all the young (below 10 years) kids were sitting on a carpet.
All cute faces with a spark of naughtiness in their eyes sitting together waiting for some people in anticipation.
None of them new why they were sitting their. Maybe they were assured of sweets.
Believe me the minute we entered the hall all that we thought vanished in vapors. We found ourselves on the receiving end.
One by one as volunteers kept entering I could see a gradual smile growing on their faces.
Kids were still sitting and watching us enter.
It was magnificent to see that a group of small kids sitting quietly and saying nothing, doing nothing simply took away whole weeks stress. And we thought we are going to help them.
Help them? Were we even capable of doing something of that sort.
Till now kids were silent and quiet but you know kids, they understand people and their behavior/nature before even a seasoned psychiatrist could do.
Withing minutes they realized that these people are up to something entertaining and enjoyable.
I stepped out to direct few people who came late. When I came back I saw each of these kids dancing and jumping here and there. Volunteers were looking for help. Laughing, amused and confused about what to do.
after 15-20 minutes of victimization (although everyone was loving it) few activities were started. Meanwhile more volunteers kept joining in and the hall became too crowded to handle so many kids and still have jamming.
It was a mad house for few minutes. Kids jumping around volunteers.
Looking at this I couldn't resist myself from picking up the most notorious one in my arms. And this was my biggest mistake. Each and every kid around wanted to climb up in my arms. I literally had to run away from there.
To continue the jamming we took everyone out in garden area.
We thought we'll sing songs for them and they'll enjoy.. but kids have their own rules of entertainment. Song requests and excitement of playing all the music instruments was high.
While this drawing competition was on, we were asked to view a video by the administration.
And a suddenly reality hit us on face.
All these kids were either rescued from some place or lost and don't know where they used to live. Some had parents who live under flyovers, collect garbage for living and beg to survive.
All the laugh and smile on our faces vanished in a go. And looking back at those kids gave us (at-least me) strength to face life.
Those kids sitting over there face not just pain of not having home but the worst scenario of this city. Some of them don't have parent's and still they live facing each day like a warrior.
Stop complaining about luck and life, I told myself.
Anyway it was time for some refreshment for kids. Chocolates, fruits, juice, biscuits and few more items were distributed and parallel medical checkup was being done by few volunteers who were Doctors.
This was the best scenario of the event. Kids took away stethoscope from doctor (volunteering in event) and started doing medical checkup round of doctors themselves. It was an amazing sight.
Someone mentioned later looking at the pics. "Shikari khud yaha, shikaar hogaya".
Nothing could have been better than spending few hours with such energetic and enthusiastic kids.
The experience can not be explained in words. I would ask few more volunteers to add their feedback and we'll add it into another post over here only.
For more pics you can visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.594479977257420&type=1
Visit our group and page
Page: https://www.facebook.com/IFE.NewDelhi
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/intelligent.freaks/
Piyush Acharya
We have ministries here, defense head quarters, offices of big Multi-nationals, Townships, big markets and malls. But still there are people sleeping on side of roads. Often neglected and sometimes accused.
Well this blog is not about Delhi or Business and Govt offices. this blog is about Intelligent Freak events visit to Street children's home.
On 1st September a group of around 50 people gathered together at Umeed Sneha Ghar. A shelter for street kids below 18 years age.
We floated the idea of jamming and distributing sweets for Orphans and street kids. Any kind of donation was welcome, be it money, food or stationary.
Response was amazing. A lot of people were interested in being a part of such noble cause.
This was not the first time I.F.E had taken up such an initiative. In 2012 I.F.E had done similar event at Manav mandir gurukul. A Orphanage where some odd 50 kids live.
So all set for spending a day with street kids we left our home. There was one common thought in every participants mind. "We are going to help and bring smile on face of few kids"
Trust me all were wrong because it came out to be other way round.
It was a bit hot that day and not to forget a Sunday too. Not so jolly mood on our faces but yes a determination to do something for kids. So with different images and perspective we entered Umeed Sneha Ghar.
We entered the campus and after crossing their play field we reached the corridors where in hall all the young (below 10 years) kids were sitting on a carpet.
All cute faces with a spark of naughtiness in their eyes sitting together waiting for some people in anticipation.
None of them new why they were sitting their. Maybe they were assured of sweets.
Believe me the minute we entered the hall all that we thought vanished in vapors. We found ourselves on the receiving end.
One by one as volunteers kept entering I could see a gradual smile growing on their faces.
Kids were still sitting and watching us enter.
It was magnificent to see that a group of small kids sitting quietly and saying nothing, doing nothing simply took away whole weeks stress. And we thought we are going to help them.
Help them? Were we even capable of doing something of that sort.
Till now kids were silent and quiet but you know kids, they understand people and their behavior/nature before even a seasoned psychiatrist could do.
Withing minutes they realized that these people are up to something entertaining and enjoyable.
I stepped out to direct few people who came late. When I came back I saw each of these kids dancing and jumping here and there. Volunteers were looking for help. Laughing, amused and confused about what to do.
So the in-charge entered and like a headmaster of school asked them to maintain silence.
But kids you know, In-charge left the room and they took the charge back.after 15-20 minutes of victimization (although everyone was loving it) few activities were started. Meanwhile more volunteers kept joining in and the hall became too crowded to handle so many kids and still have jamming.
It was a mad house for few minutes. Kids jumping around volunteers.
Looking at this I couldn't resist myself from picking up the most notorious one in my arms. And this was my biggest mistake. Each and every kid around wanted to climb up in my arms. I literally had to run away from there.
To continue the jamming we took everyone out in garden area.
We thought we'll sing songs for them and they'll enjoy.. but kids have their own rules of entertainment. Song requests and excitement of playing all the music instruments was high.
Photographers were saving their Cameras, Musicians were saving their Instruments. Kids literally were chasing each. :D and I was like.. WOW!!! what a sight.
After jamming a small drawing competition was organized and we were simply amazed to see that these kids were so good at it.
Few were exceptionally good at such a small age. Which raises a question on system of society. 'Who teaches talent? Schools? Seriously? Nope it's god who teaches.While this drawing competition was on, we were asked to view a video by the administration.
And a suddenly reality hit us on face.
All these kids were either rescued from some place or lost and don't know where they used to live. Some had parents who live under flyovers, collect garbage for living and beg to survive.
All the laugh and smile on our faces vanished in a go. And looking back at those kids gave us (at-least me) strength to face life.
Those kids sitting over there face not just pain of not having home but the worst scenario of this city. Some of them don't have parent's and still they live facing each day like a warrior.
Stop complaining about luck and life, I told myself.
This was the best scenario of the event. Kids took away stethoscope from doctor (volunteering in event) and started doing medical checkup round of doctors themselves. It was an amazing sight.
Someone mentioned later looking at the pics. "Shikari khud yaha, shikaar hogaya".
Nothing could have been better than spending few hours with such energetic and enthusiastic kids.
The experience can not be explained in words. I would ask few more volunteers to add their feedback and we'll add it into another post over here only.
For more pics you can visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.594479977257420&type=1
Visit our group and page
Page: https://www.facebook.com/IFE.NewDelhi
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/intelligent.freaks/
Piyush Acharya
Intelligent Freak Events
9953227975
No comments:
Post a Comment