Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

On 30 October 2007, a delegation of Aricent (Cisco TAC) employees visited Swagat Kendra in order to interact with the children supported by their contributions.

Swagat Kendra is a hostel for street and working children located in South Delhi’s district of Gandhi Basti next to the Okhla Mandi Vegetable market. It is providing boarding, lodging and education to the children. However, bringing each child to mainstream schools and society always remains the final aim of this project. The children staying at Swagat Kendra usually arrived in Delhi by dodging the fare of trains, coming from the countryside. Hence, they continued to live as beggars, pickpockets or petty workers in and around the vegetable market until Deepalaya identified them and, thus, invited them to the hostel.

Aricent (Cisco TAC) has been supporting the integrated children development provided by Swagat Kendra immensely, for the employees give a part of their monthly salary as a contribution to this cause. The money donated in the time-frame from February 2007 to October 2007 even amounted to the considerable sum of 310,575 /- Rupees.

As the employees of Aricent (Cisco TAC) arrived at Swagat Kendra, they were immediately greeted by an utterly excited group of children of varying ages, all of them politely extending their right hand in combination with the salutation “Good evening, Sir”. As the children had just been playing cricket in the courtyard, the employees spontaneously joined them in the game. Looking around, flashes of joyfulness could be seen in the children’s faces and glimpses of emotional stir could be perceived in the mature faces of the delegates. The employees were clearly touched by the heartiness and the frankness displayed to them. Hitting, throwing and catching the ball, everybody enjoyed playing cricket for at least an hour.

As dusk was settling in and the meeting shifted to the interior of Swagat Kendra, the children were extremely eager to show their dancing skills to the delegates. Without any kind of hesitation the boys started to dance in their own style, accompanied by clapping and cheering from the visitors. They received a lot of applause from the positively surprised audience when the music finally stopped. Shortly after that, the children gathered to sing some traditional songs in which even the employees could join in.

Nevertheless, the exuberant mood was replaced by a very sombre mood, settling in as the children lined up to receive presents one by one. The children’s facial expressions were conveying the feeling of tensed anticipation but as well of deeply felt gratitude. As they received a sweater, a package of chips and a bar of chocolate each, the tensed anticipation was replaced with delight. However, the gratitude remained.

By means of all the common activities, it was possible for the interacting employees to really get in touch with their beneficiaries and to develop a sense of friendship. Thus, all social differences could be overcome straightaway and a pleasant atmosphere was established. Furthermore, it was a good opportunity for both parties to mutually gain new motivation. Accordingly, the leave-taking was a very cordial and touching moment for both sides.