The Big Day arrived!
by Iris Wilkinson (February the 16th 2003)
My workers and I decided to start the project on Feb. 1st 03. Sindhu the social worker had identified 56 children from various slums close to the area we were to function. Bijli Nagar slum children have been quarantined as chicken-pox is rampant from house to house.
Feb. 3. 2003, the first child to arrive is Atul, a 12 or 13 year old boy, a school drop-out, has not gone to school for the last two or three years. Father is a balloon-seller. Atul ran around with boys indulging petty robbery and pick-pocketing if they had a chance. On his own he decided to leave those friends, wants to study and in his own words "become something in life". He moulds statues of elephant god (showed one of his creations) quite bright.
Next batch of 10 children came from Tiger-Gap, Muslim dominated slum. Leading the group was 8 year old Parvin, with chopped uncombed, sun-bleached hair, dirty and raggedy but with a bright toothy smile. Her 9 year old brother is mentally retarded. They have no mother, father is a rag-picker (Parvin refused to tell us what her father does, other children told us). On Feb. 8th Parvin and her brother didn't turn up, we were informed she and her brother ran away from home, after their drunk father beat up the two. To date 14th, they have not returned. An aunt went to search for them but couldn't find them. They suspect they boarded some train worked as sweepers, sweeping compartments and people giving them money. Parvin is a good looking, light complexioned child and is vulnerable.
Feroze from same neighbourhood, has no father, mother is a daily wage labourer, elder brother is a shoe-shine boy, supports the family. Feroze is bright spirited boy, very independent, eager to learn.
The first day most children came unwashed in dirty clothes, uncombed hair but next day most of them were all washed and in their best clothes.
Heena, a 12 year old came on the 6th, very attractive gentle and soft-spoken. Her mother has re-married, Heena lives with the grand-mother. When ever the grand-mother goes to the village Heena goes begging with another woman. Heena and Parvin danced for us both very graceful, Heena is supple in her movements.
Bebe a 6 year old boy, always running, jumping or somersaulting. One of the social workers discovered he had a small wad of tobacco tucked in his chin, his badly stained teeth betrayed him. It seems quite a common habit among the Muslim children, they all know why tobacco is dangerous but still do it.
Bebe
Bantu
Children come running into the hall, greet us with folded hands, looking happy and get busy cleaning up the hall (part of their training). Some times the girls brings flowers for the three of us. Generally nosy and loud talking, the only time there is pin-drop silence when they are eating. Children love to sing, specially action songs, dance and of course play.
We shall overcome some day"