June 2006

Dear friends and well-wishers of our little children in Brisson Bala Bhavan,

Hi there!

This is Fr. Shaju, director of Brisson Bala Bhavan, wishing you all every best wishes of the season.

I want to thank you all for the wonderful help that you do for the little ones in the hostel, without which none of them would have been in the place where they are now. I am delighted to inform you that the five students that were in the 1st standard have been promoted to the second standard with flying colors. All of them passed with ‘A’ grade.

They returned to the hostel after long holidays of one and a half months on the 19th of May. The homecoming was pleasant but their parent’s departure after dropping them in the hostel was not easy both for the parents and kids. There were quite a few with filled eyes on that day evening. But from next day they were all up in spirits, jumping and dancing in the morning. But then suddenly they realized that they have to go to school!!!!!. That was not at all an attractive idea for them. One even tried to hide under the coat and the teacher had to chase him out.

Now slowly they got used to the rhythm of going to school, meeting their little friends at school, doing homework, yoga, play, little quarrels etc. and now they are doing well.

When they returned from home, there were few changes waiting in the hostel for them. One was from this year we have a new teacher by name Jessy. She is a well-trained and experienced teacher. She has a lot of experience in taking care of little kids.  We had to say no to the previous teacher, because we thought our children could get a better care. Ms. Jessy is doing well and the kids are very much at home with her.

The second change for the kids is that we have seven new kids in the hostel. Therefore the total strength of the hostel is increased to twelve now.

The arrival of the new kids was an interesting scene. All five-year-old young lads in their mothers’ arms and waists. The kids were all excited about going to the hostel from home. However from home they never thought about the reality of leaving their dear ones alone, nor have they had any experience of doing that. Once they realized that their parents would go home, leaving them behind, they started to shout and cry. Some parents left hidingly. Where as for others it was difficult to leave the kids.

Seeing the new kids crying and shouting, it was interesting to see the senior kids taking care of them and consoling them, without anyone asking them to do that. It was really amazing to see those who were sad themselves a week ago, consoling the new ones and taking care of them. They are really happy about the new younger friends of theirs.

A third change the older kids experience today is that they have become ‘seniors’ in the hostel. And they are taking their responsibility as seniors very seriously. It is interesting to watch them. They let the younger ones to take bath first, let them take their food first; help them to dress, etc. All these on their own. For me it is amazing to watch them. Really it is a home now, functioning well. We have twelve cute little ones in Brisson Bala Bhavan, trying to form their future. There is a lot of life there, shouting and playing. The new ones are slowly getting in to the rhythm.

Another interesting aspect to note is; this year we have students from four different states, speaking four different languages. And all these five-year-old lads are able to live together and communicate with one another. Interesting to see in the beginning, they all speak in their own language, and they all seem to understand one another!!! Great!! I tell you, it is simply amazing!

All of them are going to an English medium school, and they are slowly picking up the English language, which is totally s foreign language for them.

Now they are at home in Brisson Bala Bhavan and doing well. I want to greet you all in the name of each one of them. This opportunity is made possible to them only because of your generous help and support. We are very grateful and indebted to each one of you for this help, for this opportunity, which they otherwise would not have had.

Once again wishing you all the best of the season and thank you very much for all your generous support. We will keep you in our prayers.

Fr. Shaju
(Director)