These children have so much life in them. Their energy is endless, their resilience is humbling.
These children do have shelter at creche cum shelter, but there a number of the children at the end of the day who return home. One young girl, Pinka, never speaks out of turn, she’s very quiet, very shy, but deeply, deeply sweet. She will pat the space right next to her and hold your hand as soon as you sit down. At the end of the day she leaves to stay with her grandmother in an airless, windowless room. A room in one of the many back alleys of Kalighat road. Her mother is still working as a sex worker.
These children, they have smiles on their faces, their energy is limitless and their laughter and dancing are most definitely infectious. They never, never fail to make me smile.
But I wonder, what kind of toll is this life taking on these children?
And we only see a glimpse, a snapshot into these children’s lives. I think about what lies underneath, what goes unnoticed. What may start to come to the surface a month from now or years from now.
We took 10 children from Creche Cum shelter and Dalit Center to the Victoria Memorial today. On the way there I was speaking with one of the teachers who went with us, Teihi. I was asking how she got involved with New Light, about her work with creche cum and the other shelters as well. And we were talking about the children. I wanted to make a point of thanking her for what she does. Because in a month, I’ll be gone and she’ll still be here. Still teaching, caring for the same children as they maneuver this many times harsh world we live in.
As volunteers, we come in and work in the clinics, teach classes, create projects and will take the children on field trips. We are actively involved and invested in these children’s lives. But the teacher’s are the ones who are the constant. As volunteers, we only have a temporary role. But the teachers and staff of New Light are permanent-this is the role I bow down to.
Very thankful for Teihi and Anil's help with the children today. It wouldn't have been possible to navigate the bus system, to get the tickets, keep an eye on all the children in a massive museum, to make the trip happen wtihout them. Deepest thanks.
And very thankful to have been able to visit the Victoria Memorial museum with these kids, it wouldn't have been the same without them:)
All of us volunteers Sam, Zack Emmy and I, with Tahi and Anil. Thank you all!
The carriage's we were able to take a ride in after visiting Victoria Memorial and Anil pretending to drive them:)