After a packed day at university, I hopped onto our university’s point and along with two of my friends, secured the front seats as the point wasn’t too teemed....
EXPERIENCE
After a packed day at university, I hopped onto our university’s point and along with two of my friends, secured the front seats as the point wasn’t too teemed. Shortly afterwards, we set off! We were headed to Dar-ul-Sukun and reached its main gate in a couple of minutes. The red board with ‘Dar-ul-Sukun’ engraved on it made it easily detectable from afar.
Currently running under the administration of Sr. Ruth Lewis, Dar-ul-Sukun strives to yield meaningful and lasting changes in the most neglected citizens of this country by empowering people with disabilities, their families and communities regardless of caste, colour, creed, religion, gender, age, type and cause of disability. Sr. Gertrude Lemmens, a Dutch nun, laid its foundation on February 17, 1969. Dar-ul-Sukun envisions a society where all abandoned children and people with disability get preferential status with access to health care, education, food, shelter and employment opportunity to live integrated and dignified life.
After getting done with the identification and other formalities, we left the office area and trod to the main buildings. On inquiring, we were told how people from different age groups had been allotted different floors. We entered into the children’s section which, undeniably, was the most exuberant of all. The floor had two main halls, well painted with bright colours and immaculately maintained; an ICU is also provided for infants requiring intensive care. Playing in their own unique ways, the children seemed carefree and oblivious to their surroundings. We were met with many confident and some endearingly shy kids there.
After getting used to our new faces, they cut the distance and greeted us with their welcoming bright eyes. Some even wanted us to hold their toys and play with them. There were quite a few caregivers who were efficiently taking care of the children’s needs. They were being fed, cleaned and clothed by the selflessly toiling, soft-hearted staff members. We also witnessed the nursing staff giving the kids their prescribed medicines with all the love and affection the innocent children desire and deserve. Also worth mentioning here is the organization’s special attention to children’s schooling. Children are taught according to their needs and varying cognitive abilities. After taking a snippet from this floor, we made our way to the other floors that were allotted to adult males and females. We were pleasantly surprised discerning the disability-friendly, latest infrastructure, which is very well-maintained. The place was clean, with all the essential facilities and services installed and delivered.
After visiting all the floors, we made our way out to the huge ground which was empty on our arrival, but was now was full of children, adults and the elderly. We were made told that every day at 5 pm, all children and adults, gather there and enjoy their time under the sky. We noticed how senior citizens, from the old home, were seated in a group enjoying the sight of children playing with each other. Few adults were adorably grooving to the beat of ‘Gulabi Ankhein’, coming through the speakers. Some children were cycling and some were playing with their toys. It was a captivating sight to behold! Our first day came to an end here.
We had signed up for volunteering there for few weeks. Every day, after our classes at our university, we would hop on to our point and head to Dar-ul-Sukun. We would play with the children, make them write, draw, colour and sometimes also tried to feed them. Some of them bonded with us so well that they wouldn’t leave us anywhere alone and would escort us everywhere we went. I vividly remember an adorably innocent man, who was in his thirties, accompanying us; we were especially overwhelmed by his sharpness and inviting attitude. He would take us to all his dear people and secret places. We would also visit the old home and listen to the stories of the elderly living there. It wasn’t pleasant listening to them while they talked about the turmoil they had undergone, but lending them an ear and giving them the time, they yearned for was the best part.
One fine day, upon our arrival, we saw the staff decorating the building on account of the forthcoming Christmas. We seized the opportunity and gave a hand to them with their work. We decorated the already lush hall with colourful ribbons, carols, garlands and other Christmas goodies. It was fun decorating our first ever Christmas tree! On our last day, we met everyone for to bid farewell. We took with us lots of pictures to cherish for the rest of our lives.
Organizations like Dar-ul-Sukun aren’t just serving children with love and care, but are also enabling them to live independent lives. As Audrey Hepburn said, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
