International Children’s Day

Goldengate Int’l College, Kathmandu

 

Just one year back, in this same day, we were there to celebrate the International Children Day on the complex of Butwal FM not only with the staffs but also with the numerous children . Not only with those who were happy but also with those who ere sad, not only with those who were on the lap of their parents but also with those who not only realized they were alone but also who couldnot feel that the they were living. Being one of the child activists , not only representing the voice of children who were thereon the stage and directly connectible to me but also I was there to represent the voice of voiceless. No any guests like leaders or any others were welcomed on that day. Instead what we did was taking all the children as the guests and those street children as chief guests.Direct interaction with them and sharing their feelings was our main motto.

How soft their words were and what a pain was hidden in their words, how often their heart was broken and how often they were left with empty stomach: We were unable to realize their pains. It reduced many of us to tears. But they were the figures representing only 40000s street children of Nepal who were their behind the screen; thousands of children of Dolpa and Jajarkot who were missing their parents or themselves and experiencing the pain of starvation.

Those children were not happy with their own life. Their eyes were wet and clothes they wore were torn from every places I could focus on. They did not even know what the drug was but was addicted to it unknowingly. It was not their will which led them to that position but it was their compulsion as they were left with no any alternatives. Some children expressed their feelings in such a way that I hated myself and felt I was just a dead soul. In that interaction, one of the boy of around 13 who was in a single vest and with a bare foot expressed that he didn’t know where he was from and what made him so. The girl of around seven who was with wet eyes shared the she was homeless, unknown about her parents whether they are alive or not. Their words really reduced many of us to tears.

In my four years of experience to work with children an interact with them i could understand only the life of children who were happy with their life but that day what I realized was beyond my expectations. That day, I still remember and recall myself but I couldnot do anything just only wish they were happy and enjoying the flavor of their life. I wish their hands which they utilized to catch the thrown cigarette could be utilized to catch the pen to restructure the model of their life. I wish I had a supernatural power and could convert their every sufferings to great happiness and their bare foot to the foot with shoes and their cryings with cheers.

Today sitting in this lonely place far from that city I see more pitiable condition of the children, however, the programs organized on this occasion are many times more in this place. I know today that now I will be unable to call myself as a children, however, I do love them. Just realizing those activities which we performed on the auspicious occasion of Children Day with the children, I am myself acting as if I am satisfied.