Navjeevan ( New Life )
I had being to Navjeevan Village on 9th July with my cousin. Navjeevan is a non-governmental organisation primarily engaged in rehabilitating the children of women working in the red-light areas in Mumbai. Over the years Navjeevan gradually stepped up its involvement and today has assumed total responsibility for the education and upkeep of a number of children in the Navjeevan Village.
Actually I had not taken anything with me for the kids. But a organisation called Samaritan Purse had sent in a lots of gifts for those kids. So me, my cousin and two others (Aanson thomas and Bharat) took the gifts to the village.The village is near Khapri, Thane district, is about 120 kms (about 75 miles) from the city of Mumbai.
In the verdant beauty of the countryside, the children enjoy a rich community life and grow in the rhythms of nature.
The committee taking care of the kids and looking after the centre.
There are 165 children looked after by four real life couples with offspring of their own, who draw the children into their own family life, and care for them as parents would.
Prasad, Sheeba (house parents taking care of the kids)
Girl children are looked after by eight house sisters. The children are grouped in 20 and live in eight beautiful homes. Here, through a rich community life the children are being slowly nurtured to overcome the stigma of their parentage and to grow up with healthy attitudes.
House sisters Rani, Namratha, Lisa, Sindhu with children
It was my first experience to this place and I was really touched by the love the kids showed on us. Those kids were coming to us and asking us our name, where are we from etc etc. We met the senior students first, as the juniors were in school. By 1:00 p.m. the school of the juniors was over and the kids were coming back from school to their respective homes with the gift which we had brought with us. The gift boxes were big and also the kids had their bags with them. So I thought of helping those little kids take their gifts home. I helped many small kids, their way home. But the girl in the next picture, standing on the first step in a white dress, 5th from left or right, you can see how small she is, it was difficult for her to carry her school bag and also her gift. So I asked her if I could help her, without thinking she gave me her school bag which was much lighter compared to her gift box. So I again asked her could I help her with her gift, she thought for a while and gave me her gift. She was eager to reach home and check her gifts, so she was jumping and hopping home, holding my hand in her little palms.She had told me her name "Chotti (means small in hindi, maybe there are many Seema's ) Seema" but I am not sure, as I got to know a lot of kids that day. I could see the happiness and joy in the eyes of the kid after receiving those gifts.
House sisters Suni, Linu, Anu, Subi with children
That scene really touched me when the kids were asking when we will be coming back to see them and to play with them, as we were getting late to go back home. The kids thought we had brought the gifts and hence they are waiting for our second visit. It was a great experience to bring joy and happiness to these kids who need it the most. We should be thankful to God for all what he has given us and should help the needy in whatever ways we can. Just visiting them and spending time with them can also give them happiness and make them feel that they are being cared by someone.
Home sweet home. The place where the kids stay along with their house parents and house sisters.
Time to have food.
Children in school. The school where students from Jr. Kg to 9th grade study.
Time to study.
Work and play.
We Shall Over Come --- children performing during Annual day
I just thought of sharing my experience of my visit. I have made it a point of visiting the centre as and when I will get time and to help them in whatever way I could, if not monitory atleast a visit to them.
I would love to spend a day of mine with these kids, asking them about their studies ,chatting and playing with them,caring for them....., these are the things they are thirsty for.
So if you can, try to look around your locality to see if there are any such kids, who need your love and care.
(The pics I have put here is not what we had taken, it is from the Navjeevan site, the pics we took are with my cousin.I will upload them whenever I get them.)
Actually I had not taken anything with me for the kids. But a organisation called Samaritan Purse had sent in a lots of gifts for those kids. So me, my cousin and two others (Aanson thomas and Bharat) took the gifts to the village.The village is near Khapri, Thane district, is about 120 kms (about 75 miles) from the city of Mumbai.
In the verdant beauty of the countryside, the children enjoy a rich community life and grow in the rhythms of nature.
The committee taking care of the kids and looking after the centre.
There are 165 children looked after by four real life couples with offspring of their own, who draw the children into their own family life, and care for them as parents would.
Prasad, Sheeba (house parents taking care of the kids)
Girl children are looked after by eight house sisters. The children are grouped in 20 and live in eight beautiful homes. Here, through a rich community life the children are being slowly nurtured to overcome the stigma of their parentage and to grow up with healthy attitudes.
House sisters Rani, Namratha, Lisa, Sindhu with children
It was my first experience to this place and I was really touched by the love the kids showed on us. Those kids were coming to us and asking us our name, where are we from etc etc. We met the senior students first, as the juniors were in school. By 1:00 p.m. the school of the juniors was over and the kids were coming back from school to their respective homes with the gift which we had brought with us. The gift boxes were big and also the kids had their bags with them. So I thought of helping those little kids take their gifts home. I helped many small kids, their way home. But the girl in the next picture, standing on the first step in a white dress, 5th from left or right, you can see how small she is, it was difficult for her to carry her school bag and also her gift. So I asked her if I could help her, without thinking she gave me her school bag which was much lighter compared to her gift box. So I again asked her could I help her with her gift, she thought for a while and gave me her gift. She was eager to reach home and check her gifts, so she was jumping and hopping home, holding my hand in her little palms.She had told me her name "Chotti (means small in hindi, maybe there are many Seema's ) Seema" but I am not sure, as I got to know a lot of kids that day. I could see the happiness and joy in the eyes of the kid after receiving those gifts.
House sisters Suni, Linu, Anu, Subi with children
That scene really touched me when the kids were asking when we will be coming back to see them and to play with them, as we were getting late to go back home. The kids thought we had brought the gifts and hence they are waiting for our second visit. It was a great experience to bring joy and happiness to these kids who need it the most. We should be thankful to God for all what he has given us and should help the needy in whatever ways we can. Just visiting them and spending time with them can also give them happiness and make them feel that they are being cared by someone.
Home sweet home. The place where the kids stay along with their house parents and house sisters.
Time to have food.
Children in school. The school where students from Jr. Kg to 9th grade study.
Time to study.
Work and play.
We Shall Over Come --- children performing during Annual day
I just thought of sharing my experience of my visit. I have made it a point of visiting the centre as and when I will get time and to help them in whatever way I could, if not monitory atleast a visit to them.
I would love to spend a day of mine with these kids, asking them about their studies ,chatting and playing with them,caring for them....., these are the things they are thirsty for.
So if you can, try to look around your locality to see if there are any such kids, who need your love and care.
(The pics I have put here is not what we had taken, it is from the Navjeevan site, the pics we took are with my cousin.I will upload them whenever I get them.)