It is a beautiful November day, cool and sunlit with not a cloud in the sky. Today's feeding is in Chauka Ghat and the community we are serving resides on the property of the Indian Railroads system. A village has been built on this government easement between the actual rail lines and the start of private land. It is actually quite a large parcel of land.
The village is vibrant with activity. In every corner that I look, I see activities in addition to the primary reason why I am here today, the Just One feeding program for impoverished children. The boys are playing a game similar to the Indian pastime of cricket. The girls who are not involved with the rolling of the dough, cooking of the vegetables or frying of the puri are engaged in sharing circles, caring for the youngest babies and roaming livestock, or tending to their daily chores.
The village is vibrant with activity. In every corner that I look, I see activities in addition to the primary reason why I am here today, the Just One feeding program for impoverished children. The boys are playing a game similar to the Indian pastime of cricket. The girls who are not involved with the rolling of the dough, cooking of the vegetables or frying of the puri are engaged in sharing circles, caring for the youngest babies and roaming livestock, or tending to their daily chores.
Each village has a specialty vocation that most of the people in the community are involved in. Here the villagers are primarily vegetable merchants – but this is one of the poorer communities. The state of the resident’s cleanliness and their clothes reflect the basic nature of the vegetables trading and their income. We have come here many times in the past, and during last year’s flooding this village was under about 8-10 feet of water. It is on lowland, with the train tracks being on the prime high land.
Today's feeding goes as smoothly as the daily entrance and exit of the trains into Varanasi. The children stop their games long enough to feed each other. The youngest are paired with an elder, so that they can share one plate. Nothing in India goes to waste. Everything is collected and recycled. It is a great feeling to leave a village knowing that everyone came together today to share in this Just One feeding.
Today's feeding goes as smoothly as the daily entrance and exit of the trains into Varanasi. The children stop their games long enough to feed each other. The youngest are paired with an elder, so that they can share one plate. Nothing in India goes to waste. Everything is collected and recycled. It is a great feeling to leave a village knowing that everyone came together today to share in this Just One feeding.
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