
Sai Maa Vishnu Shakti Trust is supporting this gathering as part of its Just One program. These are the children that Just One serves on a regular basis throughout the year in their own communities. The communities select children to attend this special celebration at ASMITA, so many of these children know me and come up to say hello or shake hands. Today’s meal is kitcheri (rice and lentils) and a banana. As a treat each of the 200 children also receive a small fried sweet and small muffin.
I discovered that this young boy of about 10 had been found on the streets the previous night and was being cared for while the children’s crisis center (ChildLine) investigated. He is a reminder of the hardship many slum children face, and how the meals provided by Just One are so welcomed by those facing immediate hunger and cold.