BESWIN

Though just fourteen he is the tallest in his class and is still growing! He attends an English medium school which follows a non-state syllabus. He does well in his studies, has his own select company, owns a delightful sense of humour,  and is fun to be with. Of late he has joined Judo classes and is also learning to play guitar.  Games? He does not have much taste for them except may be for basketball! He does hard work mainly because : “ I want to strengthen my muscles! It is good for my judo!”

“ Your father is on the line! He wants to talk to you.”  “ Please tell that guy never again to call me. I hate him! He has no heart and has ruined my life!”  Beswin hates his father and has no kind words about his mother too.   For all practical purposes he is an orphan – a psychological orphan!

I was overwhelmed as he shared with me with tears flowing down his cheeks  a few of the saddest experiences in his life!  This boy has gone through hell and high water and needs a lot of healing. That is what we try to do! Someone like him cannot be ignored! Ignoring him is a disservice to humanity! He has many contributions to be made to the society.

SEENI

Seeni is an athlete!  He has given me the latest certificates he received from the school for winning the races he participated. He has a collection of such certificates. He runs his races bare-footed .  He is about 14 years old. Seeni  is happy all the time and playful too. Mingles well with his peers. He has difficulty with Malayalam. His father is from Orissa and mother from Kerala. His father abandoned him and his mother  taking with him his daughter!

Seeni  loves his mother. He is a good boy who does not easily get into troubles.  I am sure Seeni will grow to be a fine gentleman!

RESI ( Remya Sasi)

It is hard to be homeless. Living under bridges, being a victim of uncertainties, exposed to unhealthy and unhygienic  environments is tough for anyone. It is all the more traumatic for helpless young women and young girls. They are preyed upon by unscrupulous victims of human passions.

Resi has endured all these traumatic situations. This fragile child found herself abandoned by her father who left her at the sudden demise of her mother.  Today she is eleven years old and attends school. This is her fifth year with us. The scars of the past do not seem to have broken her spirit. She is a happy child. Loves to sing and dance.  Resi is friendly and helpful.

TWO MYSTERIES

Being abandoned by their mother, sexually harassed and abused by men and being under the care of a criminal father – who now is serving a sentence -  is the worst that can happen to two young innocent  girls! They were referred to us by the Child Welfare Committee for temporary shelter maximum  for a month. The committee had no choice since the girls were uncontrollable  and had to be shifted from home to home! They were troublesome and used to be violent bullies.

It is almost one year that they are with us. They seem to be aroused by boys and get easily distracted by the mere sight of men. They have difficulty in concentrating on their studies.  The school authorities are constantly complaining about their bad influence on other girls in the school.  They tell lies, make clandestine calls and bully the younger ones. They have formed a clique of four ! The other girls are afraid of them.

All is not tragic with them. They have their bright sides too. They are friendly, sociable, take initiatives, like to do things, do not seem to nurture any grudge, are creative , can sing and dance well!  We keep praying that we may know how to handle these two lovely girls who can become real assets to society. There is an element of goodness even in the apparently most wicked young person. The educator is challenged to make it blossom!