Looking back, three and a half years ago, I began helping one child living in the slum to have boarding and education. That one action turned into five children receiving an opportunity to have better lives. From that one single action, there is now over sixty children who are in boarding schools receiving an education. I have placed so many children in boarding schools with some I remember clearly their lives situations while others became vague memories. Many kids I have placed are now gone and I have no idea what has happened of them. There was one 14 year old girl who left boarding because she was Schizophrenic and the school released her shortly after she was placed due to lack of services to deal with her condition. She was sent back to her family who cannot care for her and did not want her. Where that girl is now and what is happening in her life, I cannot imagine.
As I walk through the slums, new children and families would come and ask for boarding. But, I would also see some of the children that were placed at one time in boarding running around because they have decided to leave boarding school to be back in the streets. It is hard to understand why parents would choose to have their kids live in the streets instead of in boarding schools.
When I placed a child in boarding school, I am filled with mixed emotions. I am happy for the child that he or she will receive an opportunity for schooling, but I am also a little sad knowing I will not see the child every time I visit the slum and streets. I go visit the child in the boarding school, but that is not as often since the work to help the children is mainly in the streets of Kolkata.
Since that first child, I have placed so many kids that I have lost perspective of how many children have been helped. But no matter how many children I enrolled in school, more are being born to replace them. I just don't understand why parents would bring a newborn into a life of poverty and hunger. I have stopped asking the why question so much and simply tried to help those standing in front of me.
I don't know how much longer I will be able to do this work, but I am glad to have received help from many people along the way. I supposed the day when I have given all that I have to these poor children is the day that the work will end. For now, the end is still far away. I hope that more people will come to help the children and I hope that when I can no longer go on that someone will pick up the reign to continue the work and carry the responsibility.
As I walk through the slums, new children and families would come and ask for boarding. But, I would also see some of the children that were placed at one time in boarding running around because they have decided to leave boarding school to be back in the streets. It is hard to understand why parents would choose to have their kids live in the streets instead of in boarding schools.
When I placed a child in boarding school, I am filled with mixed emotions. I am happy for the child that he or she will receive an opportunity for schooling, but I am also a little sad knowing I will not see the child every time I visit the slum and streets. I go visit the child in the boarding school, but that is not as often since the work to help the children is mainly in the streets of Kolkata.
Since that first child, I have placed so many kids that I have lost perspective of how many children have been helped. But no matter how many children I enrolled in school, more are being born to replace them. I just don't understand why parents would bring a newborn into a life of poverty and hunger. I have stopped asking the why question so much and simply tried to help those standing in front of me.
I don't know how much longer I will be able to do this work, but I am glad to have received help from many people along the way. I supposed the day when I have given all that I have to these poor children is the day that the work will end. For now, the end is still far away. I hope that more people will come to help the children and I hope that when I can no longer go on that someone will pick up the reign to continue the work and carry the responsibility.
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