Today’s Just One feeding is in a new district - Kanshiram Awas Project. This area is a government housing project with 5,000 people living in a very small space. As we arrive many, many children are gathered around – much more than are usually present this early at a feeding program day. They are watching the food preparations, playing noisily with each other and just generally entertaining themselves while staying close to the makeshift kitchen.
The families in this area are all extremely poor – many are single parent families, who earn money begging and scavenging. A few have day labor work in construction. The torn, dirty clothes and unwashed faces of most of the children reflect the poverty they live in. But despite this they are smiling, loud, playful and boisterous. They run eagerly to talk to us, to shake our hands and engage us in their games even before we reach them.
The families in this area are all extremely poor – many are single parent families, who earn money begging and scavenging. A few have day labor work in construction. The torn, dirty clothes and unwashed faces of most of the children reflect the poverty they live in. But despite this they are smiling, loud, playful and boisterous. They run eagerly to talk to us, to shake our hands and engage us in their games even before we reach them.
Altogether we serve over 400 children meals today. Most of these children do not attend school and have little discipline in their lives. The ASMITA staff keep the children’s attention for some of the time with group games, but there is a general air of organized chaos, which occasionally erupts and then quiets down. These children are extremely hungry and devour several rounds of the vegetable curry, eagerly asking for more. When the fruit is brought out there is a race to get the oranges, and the distribution has to be stopped several times in order to calm the children.
Many of the parents and grandparents also come to this feeding. Some also want to be fed. Some are seeking medical aid. Some are just watching. In this project area there are many in need of assistance in many forms. One old lady comes up to me and smiles so beautifully. She says she saw us with the children from her window and felt she had to come and see who we were. Her eyes looked at me alight with friendliness, and I reached out to say thank you. It was a touching reminder that each small action we take to show others they are cared for can have an unimagined impact on others.
Many of the parents and grandparents also come to this feeding. Some also want to be fed. Some are seeking medical aid. Some are just watching. In this project area there are many in need of assistance in many forms. One old lady comes up to me and smiles so beautifully. She says she saw us with the children from her window and felt she had to come and see who we were. Her eyes looked at me alight with friendliness, and I reached out to say thank you. It was a touching reminder that each small action we take to show others they are cared for can have an unimagined impact on others.
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