“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness” – William Arthur Ward

One can experience this kindness first-hand when the children at the Nizamuddin shelter home shower smiles on everyone who visits them. Having worked with communities before, this was a trip down memory lane as I entered the community. I was visiting a community after almost more than a year.

As I entered the community with my colleagues, I could hear faint voices of children shouting “Didi!”. Before I could even turn to look back I could see a group of boys, who were ecstatic and completely charged up, walking right beside me. They volunteered themselves to carry the box of chips we were carrying for them. As we climbed the stairs and reached the centre, the children greeted us with a vibrant “Hello!”. I had never experienced such positivity in the longest time. I was a bit hesitant to talk to the children as this was my first visit there and I was not sure whether the children would want to talk to an unfamiliar face. I was standing next to my colleague as she was talking to a girl. I hear someone call me “Didi!”. She gestured at me to come closer. As I kneeled to get closer, she asked me for my name; that was the icebreaker that I required. I smiled to myself and a conversation over her day’s schedule started to flow.

The children at the centre have a natural vibe of acceptance which makes you feel as if you have been a part of their lives for a long time. They are excited to see you and it is visible as their gleaming eyes are evident. They proudly show their works of art displayed on the walls and you feel nothing less than a proud elder sibling. A few hours with the children makes you feel as if you are an important part of their lives.

Once you’ve stepped foot in the centre, you would want to keep going back to the children as they leave an imprint on your soul.