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!
