A Initiation by SOCH - A New Beginning (Youth Activist Group)
Feeding orphan, homeless & helpless children in 'Naya Nepal Samaj Kendra' New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
July 31, 2015, Kathmandu: This day translated as a day to have KHEER in Nepal (Kheer is a wholesome vegetarian meal i.e rice cooked with larger portion of milk added with some sugar, nuts and raisins). Mid of Shrawan or 15th of Shrawan (4th month of Nepali Calender) is a wonderful day where families all around Nepal prepare themselves to have Kheer together.
Dissimilar to this day or any other festivals, orphan, homeless & helpless children are not able to savor this privilege. Everyday is like just another miserable day for them. Having realized this fact we youth activist group, 'SOCH - A New Beginning' decided to provide Kheer with other meal for those children protected by Naya Nepal Samaj Kendra (a self funded orphanage) in center of Kathmandu.
SOCH - A New Beginning is youth activist group formed in 2015, after having realized importance of youth's initiation to bring positive change in all walk of life. At present we have representation of youngsters ranging form age of 18-25. Feeding those orphan happens to be first program of our youth association where we collected funds and resources form ourselves and feed those 70 children who were of age form 3-15. It was such a moment of pleasure and profound bliss that we were able to bring precious smiles to those wonderful children and they were corresponding their exhilaration too.
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| Children eating their meal happily |
Sad but true those children are living in a miserable condition in a self funded orphanage. Being in capital city and 12 minutes form Parliament building where nation building nation building policies are intensely discussed, condition of these children resembles metaphor as 'Darkness below light bulb'. Around 60-70 children are living in 10 small rooms made form cement block roofed with zinc sheets which is not good enough to prevent form scorching heat or pouring rain. What we observed was in a faded and congested room up to 12 children were living in a miserable condition. When we entered inside there was fungus and pungent smell form the drops of water entering inside form the roof. In addition, toilets were unhygienic with unavailability of basic amenity like soap, hand wash, pure water.
Deepak 12 year old boy had heart wrenching reply when we asked what did he need the most? He was on his bare food in a gloomy and drizzling day and he had no spare cloths to change and in winter he had no blankets or quilts to keep warm. Deepak further explained with fortitude that they all needed proper sanitation, better living conditions, clothes, hygienic utensils. While talking with other children we found that they even had to go to toilets but with no slippers on because they did not have any. Thus we counselled them about hygiene and sanitation. They were distributed hand wash and soaps we brought, explaining the benefits and ways of hand washing. All the details left us with obvious conclusion that they were living in miserable and basic condition. One thing that intrigued our thoughts was with mushrooming of NGOs and INGOs funded project for children, how these orphanage could get bypassed in their priority.
So we talked to Prem Bahadur Gurung who is operating this orphanage with this own finance. He explained that he had not received any funds for children. According to him, some the bigger shops, catering organizations and some private offices are used to provide them food item monthly. This does not always happen he has to collect monthly stock of rice and food items by asking door to door in locality. On the contrary, it was encouraging that some private schools had provided scholarship and sponsorship to provide education for some of the children. However, they were lacking stationery items like pencils, pens, ink, books, copies and book shelves. Furthermore, it was explained to us that some private offices were used to provide cash and non cash assistance occasionally, which was the main source for operating orphanage.
We spent whole day with children entertaining them with songs, dance, health and sanitation advice. Those lovely and innocent children were capsizing their adversities with genuine smiles and laughter. With uncertain future hovering around them, they did not have bigger dreams than getting wholesome meal daily and sleeping comfortably. They are asking for help, support and assistance so that they can live a better life. Bearing this fact, we youth activists of SOCH group have taken this initiation to help these children. You can reach them directly on following their address 10, Sangam Chowck, New Baneshowor, Kathmandu, Nepal. Interested volunteer, groups or child activists may approach us for informational purpose. www.facebok.com/soch-a-new-beginning
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| Children of 'Naya Nepal Samaj Kendra' orphanage excited to have their photographs taken. They were really pleased that we talked, embraced and entertained them. Whenever we took mobile phones to take photos they would exclaim with joy 'mine please' ' mine please' . |
