Volunteer Diaries: A Beautiful Experience!

Back after a four day gap, I could spot similar faces again. They as usual had a lit up face and nothing seemed to matter to them. Seeing children everywhere, giggling and gaggling enjoying their childhood, fearless of the outside world, always cheers and boosts me up.

 

I go there to inculcate in them teeny-weeny bits of knowledge, but at the end of the day it’s not always them who end up learning, I am also able to learn various things from them. The way they do what theywant to do and don’t allow anyone to force them onto something, speaks of their levels of concentration. If they want to draw, they would only draw and likewise in other areas such as Maths, Colouring, Hindi etc. Spending those 2 hours with them always turns out to be a whole new experience, each and every time.

These words have been written by Manan Kedia who is a student of Standard XI at DPS RK Puram. As part of his summer vacations, he is volunteering at the Mobile Creches Day Care Centre at Raja Bazaar, New Delhi.

Volunteer Diaries

Day 1 (1st June, 2013)

It was an amazing experience. I managed to spend some time with the children at the centre and could help a bit in teaching Hindi to children of 5+ years of age.

I came across a girl named Radhika. It was very interesting to notice her enthusiasm to study. While teaching the other children of the same group there would be a voice from the other side of the table saying "didi ho gaya, kya ab main koi aur shabd likh sakti hoon?" I turned around and saw it was Radhika. This happened at least 3 times. I felt so happy looking at that and this indirectly motivated the rest of the children to learn.

There was a lot of happiness in the centre, among the children.

Day 2 ( 3rd June, 2013)

It was again a very interesting day for me. I read out a story to the 'Non-Formal Education' children in the age group of 6-12. The children themselves selected a book that had many short stories.They repeated the lines that I read out and tried to enact them.

During the drawing session, there were plain sheets being distributed for them to draw. Then I came across a girl named Ishika and her lovely drawing -  One can see the hidden talent in her. She made birds, sun, butterfly, balloons and the overall pictures were also very scenic. If all goes well in the future she can become one of the most talented artists.  

Day 3(4th June, 2013)

This was also the pay day - a day when the field/creche workers come to the Head Office for their salary. It was an amazing experience but to be honest I also missed being at the center with the children as I came to see the Pay Day activities in the great hall with the creche workers. One could see the excitment on all the faces. People were dancing, singing, playing the dhol and having an amazing time. I'd also want  to that there are many good dancers there. Their facial expressions while dancing are amazing. The best part is that in the starting they were shy but once they started one could never say that they were ever shy. 

Today in the center, the children were learning paper folding and they made boats, fans, topi. They enjoyed the most while making boats. Whenever I would ask, "ab kya bana rahe ho" they'd say, "nav(boat)" then again " didi hum fir nav rahe lekin choti si "and then  they coloured it ". 

These words are written by Udita Narayan, whose studying Applied Psychology in Amity, Noida. She's currently a volunteer with Mobile Creches.

Crane crushes 4-year-old playing at building site

Crane crushes 4-year-old playing at building site
Times of India
The Buildings and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 stipulates that if the company employs more than 50 women, it should provide rooms for the workers. Some of the larger construction companies ...


A young child dying in an accident on a construction site is indeed very tragic!! 

What is equally disappointing is that in the article there is no mention of words like Creches, childcare arrangements, etc. The newspaper report only mentions that “there should be provision of rooms for workers under the Buildings and Other Construction Workers’ Act”. 

People continue to be unaware about what Creches are? What are some of it’s key components? The need for creches? Etc. The general understanding of a Creche is limited to a woman sitting with a group of young children. 

We wish the newspaper reporter highlighted the role of crèches a bit more. And hope for the media to pick up the issue of Creches and their need, to create mass awareness around the same.
Only then there will be social change possible!!