Sharing Happiness

Photo: Prabir Das

During the last two years something strange happened to me. During this period, I have celebrated four Eids and none of them seemed interesting or enjoyable to me. On getting new dresses or whatever I wanted for my Eid, or while playing along with friends, taking different rides, attending parties at KFCs with my friends and having all the fun that anyone can think of, my mind was occupied with the thoughts of the street children. How do they celebrate Eid when they don't even have a place to call home? The thought haunted me in my dreams, and I could not enjoy my Eid happily.

Then I started to look for a way to do something for them, or at least share my feelings with them. I was referred to a voluntary organisation called 1 Degree Initiative (1dI) by my friend, Raisa. I could not but seize the opportunity and registered myself as a volunteer with them. Being a volunteer for 1dI, for the first time an opportunity came in my life this year by the grace of the Almighty. On July 19, I joined the event “100 Smile 2014.” The idea was to share our happiness of Eid with the street children by offering them rides, games, gift pack, hena painting, foods, balloons, face painting, songs, dance and many more interesting events. The event took place in Lalmatia Girls' School and College where many street children gathered. Everyone will agree with me that the most enjoyable part of Eid for kids and adolescent girls is decorating their hands with hena on the Chand Raat (the night before the Eid). Although I am not good at painting palms with henna, I thought maybe I should give it a try. I started to decorate the children's hands, particularly the girls with henna. A big surprise was waiting for me when I saw that within a short time many of those girls started gathering around me waiting to have their hands decorated.

Seeing their happiness my heart was filled with joy. Then I played with them for a while. Once the ice broke, they started to open their hearts to me, sharing their dreams. They have the same dreams as we do. I was impressed with their ability to take some really good photos with a smart phone that I had taught them to use just minutes before.

Finally the day ended-- it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was glad to be able to do something for some disadvantaged street children. I pray that one day their impoverished conditions improve, they come out from the miseries of life and all their dreams come true. All those in the society having the ability to fulfill their own dreams should also come forward to help these children fulfill theirs. If some of us come forward, then others will be inspired too. In this way we will be the change makers of Bangladesh and one day there will be no street children, no children without education, no one without food and shelter. In this country of challenges and natural disasters, a small step can help gain great achievements.