It has been a month since I have been interning with MyChild NGO. I vividly remember the day when I first came to the Girl’s Home to intern. There were a bunch of exuberant kids who welcomed us with their broad smiles. But one thing which went unnoticed by me then, was the deep seated concerns behind their cheerful smiles. During my tenure, I eventually came to realize that these children have had awful experiences which have bogged them down. They have all suffered from some devastating life event(s). Their experiences took their childhood away from them. Reformation and restoration is easier said than done. But small changes in OUR behavior, could bring a huge difference in them. The smallest bits of love like appreciating their talents, considering their opinions, being gentle and empathetic towards them, smiling and even wishing them Good Morning give them immense happiness. They eagerly wait for our arrival at the window - the bi-directional path to light and healing.

While conducting sessions with the girls, I understood that language is definitely a barrier but not an insurmountable obstruction. It also made me understand the importance and value of body language. I have seen children who were short tempered, angry, abusive, obnoxious, etc at the home. But I have also seen how peer influence help them cope with emotional imbalances. I like to share one such enlightening example.

A child from the home narrated her story of how she came to the place a considerable time back and she hasn’t been restored back home. She rationalized “Everything happens for a reason Akka. If I had not come to this place, I wouldn't have learnt Craft, Mehendi, Art and things which were taught by the five of you’’. All those activities made her confident as an individual and ideas for livelihood. She feels privileged to listen to other’s life stories and has started appreciating her friends, parents and most importantly herself. Following this, she added that sometimes the feeling of getting done with life could be pushed by looking at people who are going through much more than us. This powerful confession, made me self reflect. I wondered how this little child, who is already going through so much, could make me question my own interpretation of life.

From that day, I intently focused on the tiny steps of progress I saw at the children’s home. I saw light in her and she enlightened me with her words. Every-time she speaks, I see power in her. The power in her words, the power to heal, the power to grow and most importantly the power to stand up on her own feet. We all have wounds which make our life harder to live and there would be times when we would feel burdened by the weight of not knowing what to do. There are nights when I wish there will be no tomorrow. On those fretful moments, I take a deep breath only to realize that living is a gift. I just can't let go. And this is what the child has taught me. Through this journey I too am interpreting a lot about myself, while learning to appreciate my privileged position.