The Lady with the Incredible Green Eyes and her two little boys is back. She disappeared from the side of the road for nearly a week. During this time I began to wonder if she had just decided to camp outside of Sishu Bhavan over the Christmas period in order to take advantage of the free meals and goodie bags. Perhaps because the handouts had finished or her plan had failed (as she was never given a 'lucky' card to gain a free meal) she had left. Part of me felt happy - thinking that perhaps her few days on the street had just been a ploy and really she had a husband and a place to live. Another part of me worried that something had happened to her or her children. That they had become too hungry and the options become more extreme.
Today the Lady with the Incredible Green Eyes and her two little boys returned to the patch of pavement outside Sishu Bhavan. Confused and surprised I tried to find out where she had been, but the lack of a common language left as both signing into the thin air and the questions lingering, unanswered.
I found the Smiling Novice Nun in Sishu Bhavan. She is still fresh and full of life. She actually plays with the children and enjoys it. The Smiling Novice Nun is always helpful and speaks perfect English. She answered my questions and told me that the elder child of the Lady with the Incredible Green Eyes was severely under nourished. One week ago the child had been admitted into Sishu Bhavan and began to grow strong. However, the mother and brother remained on the streets. Today the mother decided to collect her son, even though the Sisters wanted him to remain in their care for a little longer.
Now the matriarchal family are back on the pavement. Hungry. I went back to speak to the Lady with the Incredible Green Eyes and she asked for 'vitamins' She drew imaginary circles around her temple, suggesting that she was dizzy. She is incredibly skinny; her light is fading.
Another volunteer told me the Sisters had said that she was delibrately staring herself and the children so that her begging would be more productive. But this doesn't add up - she begs for food not for money, and I have once seen the family sharing a plate of rice.
I am trying to think of solutions. She clearly doesn't want to be without her boys and neither should she be. I am wondering if I can find her a job working in a care center where her boys could stay. But would she trust me to take her there? Would she participate? Would she agree? Would they be safe? Ultimately, would this improve there situation?
I'll take her some vitamins and fruit for her tonight....continuously trying to stop the flood rather than to fix the dam.
Ideas Welcome.
Today the Lady with the Incredible Green Eyes and her two little boys returned to the patch of pavement outside Sishu Bhavan. Confused and surprised I tried to find out where she had been, but the lack of a common language left as both signing into the thin air and the questions lingering, unanswered.
I found the Smiling Novice Nun in Sishu Bhavan. She is still fresh and full of life. She actually plays with the children and enjoys it. The Smiling Novice Nun is always helpful and speaks perfect English. She answered my questions and told me that the elder child of the Lady with the Incredible Green Eyes was severely under nourished. One week ago the child had been admitted into Sishu Bhavan and began to grow strong. However, the mother and brother remained on the streets. Today the mother decided to collect her son, even though the Sisters wanted him to remain in their care for a little longer.
Now the matriarchal family are back on the pavement. Hungry. I went back to speak to the Lady with the Incredible Green Eyes and she asked for 'vitamins' She drew imaginary circles around her temple, suggesting that she was dizzy. She is incredibly skinny; her light is fading.
Another volunteer told me the Sisters had said that she was delibrately staring herself and the children so that her begging would be more productive. But this doesn't add up - she begs for food not for money, and I have once seen the family sharing a plate of rice.
I am trying to think of solutions. She clearly doesn't want to be without her boys and neither should she be. I am wondering if I can find her a job working in a care center where her boys could stay. But would she trust me to take her there? Would she participate? Would she agree? Would they be safe? Ultimately, would this improve there situation?
I'll take her some vitamins and fruit for her tonight....continuously trying to stop the flood rather than to fix the dam.
Ideas Welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment