November 7, 2014 - the last day of our Social Responsibility Project. The time we spent with them was limited, but the experience was not. Here is how the day unfolded.
It was not pre-decided but all of us reached earlier than we were supposed to. We went inside the empty premises, some talking some just walking, taking it all in - trying to consolidate it all in our heads probably. Shooting for a promotional video for Hamari Kaksha and Project Akanksha would be winded up today and so would our brief stint with this place and its children - for a while anyway.
The shooting had been a lot of fun, especially for the children. They were so taken by the presence of the camera that we had them rehearsing what they were going to say like stage actors! It was quite amusing, honestly. Mostly, we had captured them saying what they wanted to say, in their own words. What came out was a candid reflection of what these children thought about their their life's ambitions. Then there were always kids wanting to get clicked. The way their eyes lit up when we told them that their photos were going to be on the internet was something that melted our hearts.
The day began with the usual - teaching and shooting. What was different though, was that every few minutes, Preeti or Manisha or Shalini or Deepak or someone would come and ask us if we were indeed leaving today. Their crestfallen expressions when we replied in affirmative was echoed in our yes too.
Towards the end of the time, we requested Ms. Sangeeta to have all the children assemble at one place so we could say what we had wanted to tell all of them. She announced so and with the last twenty minutes left, there were children pulling thin rugs together on the ground to create a space where all of them could sit together. Within a few minutes, we had faces from all classes seated on the ground and looking at us expectantly.
We all said our thank yous and recounted how much we had learned from all of them. All of us reiterated the potential we had seen in the students there and how, in so many ways, they were all so much more diligent than even we had been at their age. Our lively audience applauded in pride, happiness and glee. Thereafter, we distributed the chocolates we had gotten for them and a football that would be kept in the premises for all the enthusiasts to play.
Even numbers were exchanged; given, rather. Eager to stay in touch, many of our students asked us for our contacts, which we were only happy to give. From promises of messages and calls from their parent's phones to promises of calling whenever they got a phone were made over and over again.
Once the hullabaloo of the crowd subsided, we had Preeti and her gang pulling us to the back of the ground where they made us stand in a huddle so we could not see what they were doing. The nest thing we knew, we were surrounded by a blur of little bodies, squeals and color. They had made us an entire bunch of farewell gifts!! There was a scrapbook of sorts with just drawings and pictures of things, a Mickey-Minnie Mouse wall stick on, a card and a big thermocol heart.
It was clear that none of these things were bought or new, and that is exactly what made it so special. That moment also made us realize how much of a difference any external support would make to their lives. These children had the creativity and willingness to find ways to learn. They had enough potential to be as good, or even better than someone who went to more high end educational institutions - all they needed was a little push, a little encouragement, a little facilitation by those who would be willing to provide it.
With that thought, an initiative like Project Akanksha seemed even more significant. We were glad that we could in our own small way, contribute to a cause so relevant and necessary. Education does turn lives around. And organizations like Hamari Kaksha move towards that transformation, one tiny step at a time, everyday.
