Dear ones, I work with children, whose parents live on the street. This means that the children and parents have all their belongings and their pots and pans on the street. Mind you this is in the heart of Delhi and there is dense traffic most of the time.

The children spend the day with us and we teach them enabling skills. Enabling skills means having a routine, awareness of threats, and a desire to learn.

Routine is something we take for granted. Waking up at a regular hour. It is impossible, when one is sleeping outside on the road. We have been able to have them coming to us on time. They are between the ages of 3—8.

The next step is to protect them from sexual abuse. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing all around. We give them leggings and attempt to teach them not to accept gifts from strangers.

When it comes to curiosity and a desire to learn, they are very excited and enthusiastic. We play with crayons and sing and dance. Learning nursery rhymes also works on their memory.

We give them a balanced meal and teach them about hygiene. It is hard when one does not have easy access to running water. They love washing their hands with liquid soap when they come to us. The outcome is that they try their best to come to us as clean as they can be. They enjoy coming to us at TORCH and are not happy to go back home.

Blessings from the Goddess

We have been working with the children for the last 15 years. Many have gone to school and managed to complete their school. It is not easy as most of the parents are migrants and they go to their village, whenever they feel like. Yesterday two sisters came to visit us and they were married. They have got married to boys, who have regular jobs. I was so happy about it.

Just think about it. Living on the street and being able to have a basic education and then getting married to someone, who is not put out by this past life. I believe in miracles and blessings from the Goddess.

Lastly, I will add that so many people have helped us to give the best we can to the children. I thank all the generous persons.

Aim Hrim Klim