Dance my life...

星期一, 十二月 05, 2005

C.H.I.L.D.R.E.N

I reached Hospet Station in the morning, waiting for the bus to Hampi. At 5:00 am, the bus station had already waked up. It's a boisterous place full of walking vendors. They were yelling in order to attract, or you can say disturb passengers. Among those sellers, there was a kid moving around, yelling “Paper! paper!” Then he came to us, obviously a big target to sell English paper, said,” Paper? You want English paper?” He wrapped his head with a scarf, carrying Hindi and English paper. He’s a boy with big eyes, a smart little boy. Irina from Russia pointed at the paper saying, “It's not English. Are you sure it's English?” The boy looked at the paper and smiled, said “It's English!” He knew Irina was teasing him. “How old are you?” Irina asked the boy. “Six,” he said. “Do you go to school? You should go to school.” “Yes, I go to school. Do you want paper? ” “No,” said Irina. “You are waiting for the bus?” said the boy. He directed us to sit on a chair in the station, saying”You can sit here to wait for the bus,” then he walked away to sell his paper. When we got on the bus, he came up to say goodbye. “Go to school,” Irina reminded him. “Ok,” he smiled.

This six years old boy didn't go to school but selling paper. After arriving Hampi, I knew he is not an exceptional example. Children labor exists in different forms here. Some sell stuff and many of them are beggars. There were many children strolling on the street, asking tourists for one Rupee. They would just follow you and keep saying” One rupee please. One rupee please.” These kids are around 2-10 years old. When we visited an old temple, one girl around 5 years old came with her little naked sister shouting “One rupee. Photo.” She saw that we have camera and asked us to take her a photo. We took a photo for her and her sister. They looked at the photo happily, then handing out and saying “One rupee.” “No, I took your photo; you should give me one rupee.” We found a way to answer these kids. The little girl had an embarrassing smile and took back her hand. We also met a boy dressing like a clown to appeal tourists taking his picture. (pic right below)I took two pictures of him. He said,” Ten rupees.”

I gave him one rupee. He took the money and walked away. Jose also took him a photo, but he didn’t give the kid money. The kid chased after Jose and shouted,” Ten rupees!” Jose refused him. ”I earn money by this! You should give me money!” that kid yelled. I actually think the kid was right. He dressed up for people to take pictures so he has the right to ask for rewards.

There were some kids asking for school pen or cookies. I bought a pack of cookies, and then a kid came to me for one rupee. I gave him a few cookies. He was ecstatic and ran back to tell his friends. All of his friends came to me to ask for cookies so I gave most of my cookies away.

This kind of situation is common in a touristy place like Hampi. No one tells them it’s not right to beg; even they try to earn money on their own. It seems that parents can’t care less about their own children.

However, in Hyderabad where I stay, I can easily see there are many children dress well, taking sedans to private school. This society is full of contrast.

Last week I went to do charity work in a primary school with some of my friends. Before going there, I have seen on TV and heard about these miserable schools with little resources. Yet seeing their situation in reality is different from seeing it on TV. It’s a small primary school with only 2 classrooms. When we went into one room, I was shocked from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t scream, because like what I said, you can see it on TV. Those kids sited on the floor, without chair, desk and lights. They put their bags on their thigh and that’s their desks. They write with tiny pencils. There’s no grade difference. Kids in different ages squeezed in one room. They were happy about our visit. We had great time together.

I don't want to comment the situation of poor children in India, nor give statistics to prove how pitiful they are. I just want to record realistically what I saw. Actually I don't really know how to help them. We shouldn't encourage the behavior of begging so when they ask for one rupee, we should not give them. Some of my friends are eagerly to cooperate with NGO to improve the condition of poor schools. Maybe this is the only way we can do for them now. But how about those street kids who don't go to school?

posted by 米花 at 11:13 上午, |