Visit to the Orphanage

Before I write about my Trip to the US, this visit requires special mention here. As a part of my curriculum of CA , I attended a 15 day General management class(its popularly called GMCS). The strength of my class was 52. Most of us had met for the first time. So set of 52 new people came together for this class. Usually every batch of GMCS plans and outing during one of the 15 days to bond better with each other so that at the end of the course we not only pick up some communication skills we also make 50 odd good friends. We decided on one such outing too.

Thought of many places, from the beach to a group dinner until someone suggested that we visit an orphanage, donate a little bit and spend some time with the children there. I think the seed for the idea was planted by one of the participants herself.. when on the second day of our course she mentioned how she celebrated her birthday year after year with lesser privileged children. Her talk touched one and all, and hence the idea sprung in the mind of one amongst us. Almost everybody agreed to the idea and we started the hunt for an orphanage to visit.

We finally zeroed in on one in Anna Nagar, called the Guild of Service, A home for Handicapped Children.

We had bought a lot of goodies for the kids and had collected money and bought other things the home required.

When we reached the place at about 4 pm we were welcomed by little kids at the portico.

The asked our name. asked us whether we were working or studying , same office or not etc…

They were overjoyed and one could see it on their faces.

I was touched. It was my first visit to a handicapped home. The kids there were more loving than anyone. Such innocent kids.. with welcoming smiles. All of us just wanted to play with them and talk to them. Some of the kids were deaf and dumb, some had problems in their limbs. All said and done they made our day.

I sat there trying to mingle with as many as possible, trying to remember as many names as possible. Some kids was brilliant at recitation., some brilliant at dance, some could read Tamil flawlessly. We played , sang and shouted in joy with them.

Each kid was unique and I’d say “gifted” in a different way.

I felt completely at ease, I could forget all my problems, and de-stress by just playing with those kids.

As we were all bidding them farewell, the kids were just asking us one question..”Akka/ Anna thiripi varuvela..’

And that’s where I realized that one visit is not the end.. there must be many more visits like this to keep the flame of togetherness alight.

Thanks to my friend who mentioned a visit to an orphanage in her talk, not only did all of us feel what she wanted to communicate ,we also made a difference to some children and to our lives.