The day was bright & sunny as our small group of six assembled at the gates of Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan in Palluruthy just before 10 am. Sneha Bhavan is an organization established by the Cochin Corporation in 1974 to house boys rescued from the streets, to heal the brokenness in their lives, to inspire, support and steer them towards a new life, integrated with the mainstream of society. The Salsians of Don Bosco have been entrusted the task of Sneha Bhavan’s administration.
As we entered the grounds, a few boys of around 8 to 12 years were carrying out their daily chores of sweeping the grounds and watering the plants, occasionally supervised by an older boy. It seemed remarkable how meticulously they worked, and bespoke the discipline instilled in the kids growing up there.
We met Fr. Thomas, who runs Sneha Bhavan and were encouraged to meet and spend some time with the children. The boys assembled in a small hall in their building, and sat on the floor in four straight lines. Fr. Thomas introduced us briefly and entreated them to share their thoughts with us and to show us around. We were delighted to see the kids’ enthusiasm to get to know us. As they warmed up to us and began to talk about themselves, we began to distribute sweets. “This is Moses”, said Shankardas. He continued, “He has been here since 5 years and I have been here since 9 years. We are best friends.”
The boys then led us out into the grounds and entertained us with songs. The companionship, the kinship that subsisted between 75 boys of ages 5 to 18, from different parts of India, even defying lingual barriers, seemed simply remarkable.
The boys in our group were invited to join for a game of football. They were also eager to have us play caroms and other indoor games with them. It was as though we were transported back to our childhood for an hour or so.
Soon we were taken around to see their ‘home’, with little Siju acting as our main guide. We were proudly shown around their dormitory, dining hall and study room. All appeared spotlessly neat and tidy. The study room, filled with desks & chairs, had walls adorned with the boys’ drawings. Each boy has just 3 sets of clothes, one of which is the school uniform. Every boy has to maintain his clothes neatly. Passing by the staff room, we noticed a shelf lined with medals and trophies won by the boys for different competitions. Siju also pointed out the home’s dispensary, saying, “I’d like to be a doctor someday.”
“The boys are from different backgrounds. Some are brought here by the police who find them wandering on streets. Some are rescued from child labor, others abandoned by families migrating to Kerala in search of work”, said Fr. Thomas, when we met in his office room a while later. “Some of them have been wandering through different states in India, hopping trains, singing & begging for alms.” Boys from other states are usually rehabilitated to orphanages in their respective states so that they are not deprived of growing up within their own culture.
The younger boys are given basic education at the nearby Malayalam-medium schools. Older boys are sent to high-school and are also given vocational training. College education is provided to boys based on aptitude, if aided by generous sponsors. During summer break, the boys are provided computer education and career guidance. Those with relatives willing to have them spend a few days with them are allowed to do so during the vacation from school. Sneha Bhavan has both a musical band and a chenda troupe formed by the boys.
“I can play the chenda well”, piped a little voice. I looked down at a pair of bright eyes gazing at me eagerly. Fr.Thomas then went on to tell that this little boy and his cousin were from Tamil Nadu and were found playing the chenda and singing on trains for alms. Both of them were now residents at Sneha Bhaven. “Can you read this?” the little boy continued, showing me a name he had scribbled on his palm in English. “Vijay”, I read out. “That’s my name,” he said proudly. ‘Yes,’ I thought, ‘Vijay, meaning success or victory, and Sneha Bhavan is where you start your journey towards it.’ ‘Perhaps,’ I mused, remembering the others too, like Moses who confided his dream of becoming a computer engineer, ‘we at Wipro Cares could provide the stepping stones towards it.’
Too often we under-estimate the power of a touch,
A smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment,
Or the smallest act of caring…
All of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Let's show that we care...
WIPRO CARES
Note Extended by : Preetha Abraham
Wiproites who were fortunate enough to be part of the activity :
Lydia Peter
Melvin George Thankachan
Nikhil Mathew
Preetha Abraham
Saju Vaheed
Smrithi Gopala
