It was not just another Wednesday for 70 orphans staying at New Hope Children's Home, in Ranchi. The Wednesday was made special for these children by American Center Kolkata.
The center’s Deputy Director Rachel Sunden visited to the ‘happy home’- the orphanage of these children and interacted with them. This visit of the Deputy Director of the American Center Kolkata was arranged by NGO South Vihar Welfare Society for Tribal (SVWST).
The children had gathered in a makeshift tent outside the orphanages where they interacted with Sunden. These ‘specially privileged’ children could not understand when Sunden spoke in English. When Sunden asked, “Do you like school,” a mixed response came. Some voices said “yes” some said “no”. But the moment the secretary of (SVWST), Anima Baa translated it as, “Kya apko school achha lagta haiIJ” All children spoke in a thumping united “Yes.” Sunden then told these children about her country- the United States of America and how it was similar to India in some way and different in other.
“You love cricket na! We in USA play baseball. You have seen players playing Hockey on grass we in the USA play hockey on ice. But like India we have the same system of governance,” she said to the children. These children, average age 8 years, could not understand much of what Sunden was talking about, as their gestures conveyed, but they looked so overwhelmed. They sang a welcome song for the deputy director.
Finally Sunden expressed her gratitude for the invitation by saying, “You all are very nice very special children. I am grateful that you invited me here.” “Thank you,” is all that these children could convey, by voices and by eyes.