World Street Children News

A great feeling…

 (blog entry)

I hope some of you have heard about ‘Jamghat’. For those who haven’t, it’s a group of street kids who weren’t in the limelight until they performed in front of Prince Charles, a street play, play about their street lives. Ever since they have been performing their plays all over and raising monetary resources for basic necessities.

But lately, they have started to showcase their skills, jute bags, photo frames, paper bags, etc. And after every performance, they let people have a look at them and those who like them, buy them.

Recently, one of my friends, got involved with them closely, when we were thinking of starting our own project. Subsequently, he got involved with them so much, that all of us agreed this is what we want to do. So, now we plan to associate closely with Jamghat and help them in whichever way possible…

Jamghat as a group, has been performing at various places–Yesterday at Dilli Haat. Crowded Sunday evening, full of youngsters, people who are ready to appreciate their play, an original creation–they use no language.. So there we were, with the kids and Amit Sinha (Director), calling everyone to just look at what they are about to do. And once they started, BINGO! people saw the whole play. The response was amazing! All of us were smiling. More than anyone, the kids.

Their stuff was put on display, they told everyone who they are, how and what they do. People took great interest and kept asking us questions. It was a moment full of excitement and adventure.

As our small little help–we are trying to get them stalls so to say, so that they can put their material on display. And they have already got some, thanks to one of our friends in Jesus & Mary College. So friends, if you see Jamghat anywhere–try to just take out five minutes and listen to their story.. They are brave and ready to face challenges.

Just to see them smile and hear applause from the audience yesterday was pure magic. Even though ours is just a small association, but it was a great feeling seeing them getting such a huge response… Here’s hoping our efforts will help them in whichever way–because already, Jamghat is rocking. Their smile says it all.

You can have a look at Jamghat’s page..

http://jamghat.blogspot.com/

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Amarni, home for street children

(Blog entry) 

I’ve not written anything for a few weeks so this is going back some time now. As a change from site work, four of us went to Moshi for the day to visit the childrens’ home. Its a really amazing place. They have about 70 kids there that they have taken in off the streets, (either orphans or forced to leave home for other reasons). We had a brilliant time with them,. Playing games for the afternoon. We joined in a game of ladders which resulted in a few bruised shinns!

They asked us to go back to do an English lesson (they can’t afford to put all of them through school, so some don’t get to go). It went really well; a group of about 10 boys aged between about 10 and 13, they were keen to learn and some of them very bright. We did numbers, head shoulders knees and toes, and then animals which was so much fun. We acted out elephants, monkeys etc, and one of out lads even made ballon animals. After we sat and drew pics. Its a strange experience, to feel happy that they’ve enjoyed themselves but also upset when I start to think about the fact they don’t have families.

 (Ed note: Here is a link to Amani Children’s Home )