Welcome to my space in cyberspace - I find myself unable to describe the kind of blog this will be/is or slot it into a genre, but the attempt shall be made to make it interesting, and I promise, it won't be an autobiography or me droning about my activities of the day and who I met... Well, I'll try at least!

VOLUNTEERIN!

MY EXPERIENCE OF VOLUNTEERING

Having plenty of time to spare post-twelfth board exams, I turned to volunteering- a long awaited wish of mine coming true at last. Through ivolunteer, I was directed to a small school in yashwantpur which catered to child labourers under the NCLP- National child labourers project. The morning, when I was due at the school, found me filled with apprehension of what lay ahead for me… as I had never been any good with kids!

But, contrary to my fears, the ensuing month was a truly unforgettable one, for me at least!! The kids, ranging from 8 yr olds to mushrooming 16 yr olds were a constant source of delight. I was appalled to discover most came from broken families, or in some cases- there was NO family! These were only kids by name. The mental maturity and understanding of the world they possessed at that tender age, was something that had to be seen to be believed. An age, which most of us went through playing, frolicking away and totally carefree, had these kids working the streets to support themselves!

One boy, who left a lasting impression on me was ravi. An exceptionally intelligent 10 yr old, with no family, he supported himself by washing dishes from 4 in the morning till the wee hours of the night , attending school also in between- all this for a measly Rs. 50 per week.

It was an eye opener for someone like me who had taken the basic amenities and luxuries of life for granted. For the first time I realized the value of money and the place it held in our lives. Each day there proved to be a new and learning experience for me. In spite of the living hell that their life was, they still possessed the innocence of the youth and the confidence that they would get their share of joy and happiness in the years to come.

Each individual there was truly that- an INDIVIDUAL. Each had his own dreams and ambitions, yet there was all bound by the fire that raged within them- the need to need to prove to the world and more importantly themselves what they were capable of.

In their world which reeks of depression, broken families and violence, these street kids have the determination to make it in life and it is this which has propelled them forward as yet another day dawns and they get ready to face the big bad world outside!

When one goes through the lows of life, one has but to think of these brave little soldiers battling it out on the streets and think- if they can bounce back to life with so much zeal, why can’t I???