A lot has happened in my life lately and frankly, I hadn’t had the opportunity to sit back and introspect until the moment I started writing this blog. I started working as a Content Creator at Wishes and Blessings, which is a Delhi-based NGO. It works across horizons of different social causes – from childcare, elderly care, nutrition to education. This is my first time working in the social development sector and I am very excited for this journey.
For three days straight, I was working on my desk in the office, which is very customary of my writing profession, but on the 22nd of March, I was informed about my “field visit” where I had to stopover, get related photographs and write content. I was thrilled because this was something I was actually looking forward to. I was assigned Modi Mills Day Care Centre, which is run and looked after by Wishes and Blessings.
I was accompanied by Barkha Hazaria, who works as Media and Outreach Officer in the same organization. We reached Modi Mills, which is a slum area, dwelling under a highway and beside railway tracks. In my mind, I had already fabricated a picture of the shelter – “dusty and broken where a bunch of children would be sitting doing the most random things”. My mindset did not take too long to be completely shattered into bits and pieces. I saw a bright blue coloured set up with huge floral patterns, right across the neglected slums, standing firm and beautiful, as if it was radiating hope in the chaos of ignorance.
When I entered the main shelter, I couldn’t see anything as I was blinded by bright sunlight. As soon as I stepped inside, I heard, “Good morning bhaiya, how are you doing?” in unification. They were around 20-30 children wishing me. I saw a colourful classroom with bright-faced children looking right into my eyes. The children were being looked after by a teacher, and a caretaker. I interacted with them one-on-one, and to my surprise, they spoke quality languages – both in English and Hindi. Soon, I discovered an equally bright-coloured kitchen where daily nutritious meals are prepared for these smiling street children.
After personally teaching them new words, I played kho-kho with them, served them lunch and had the heartiest little conversations.
The children called me “Khush Bhaiya”, maybe because not a moment passed by without me showing the biggest smile! It was truly an emotional moment for me. I never had this feeling of gratification ever before. I was engulfed wholly by the innocence and curiosity of these little geniuses. I genuinely enjoyed my visit to the centre, and wish to meet all my newly made friends soon and hopefully over and over again.
About the Author
Khushaal Sharma is a Content Creator at Wishes and Blessings. He loves to make YouTube videos, write blogs and spend time with dogs. He firmly believes that endings always lead to new beginnings.