A cry for Help!!!!

The arrogance that screams out to you from many of these children faces actually disguises a Plaintive cry for attention…a wish to belong to someone…to have someone to hold them as they cry… But, I am sad to say! that most of these cries are often ignored…and after going through as much rejection as they can bear., they try and disguise their desperation and hurt behind their rough and tough character, which is mostly a ploy.

But, some where also there who accepted the fact and was not bitter about it..This difference u see in them was the achievement of an organization called the Free Birds! ( based in Calicut) that worked towards the rehabilitation of street children…provide them with basic studies or training for some kind of job---for older children.

Though , most have parents they are either too poor or care nothing for their children… their main concern centered on the money their children earn, either by fair means or foul such as begging or pick pocketing.

My Interaction with these children as part of an internship I did with the paper “ Indian Express, Calicut” where I had to do a feature on the organization” Free Birds”…….I was introduced to small kids, not yet into their teens who were involved in manual labour….One boy even ventured out to say that he loves studies ..but had to give it up in order to support his family….but now he is happier that he can continue with his studies. But, as a contrast to him there was also some who were totally beware of strangers and shrunk away from me as I tried to get them to open up….some soo..totally ignored me. While others were vying for my attention

Most of these children are from tamil nadu and their parents were tamil labourers who came across to Kerala for their livelihood…and most have too many children to pay attention to them. Thank God! For such an organization that at least works towards the well –being and betterment of these children…But, there still thousand’s out there without any help or who have not even heard of rehabilitation…they are getting deeper into a quagmire of crime and desolation without even a ray of hope! So, this article is in fact an dedication to those children and all those organizations an d volunteers who extend help and support to them!!!