Visit to Gandulwad
A mere 65 miles away from the glam of the MAXimum city, there exists a life that gives people like me a tangential experience in its entirety. An exquisite landscape of Gandulwad and surrounding houses umpteen families that dwell in scattered villages. Amid the beautiful locale, exists one old abode that is a home to 424 kids who have shifted their bases from anywhere between a mile to around 20. There are 14 rooms and the roof above and the floor below each is shared amongst 25 to 30 kids.
Earlier they would also study in those rooms but with the grace of almighty and support from kind humans, they now have a one storey building that is equipped with 12 classrooms for the kids to facilitate education (Grade 1 to 10), that I believe is the ultimate need of time and I am sure many of us align with the thought.
Managing this number in limited capacity is certainly a mammoth task. However, the intention of the institute are so noble that they are determined to take care of whatever best they can afford to. They have put their foot down to ensure that not a single kid should be deprived of education. My heartfelt respect and salute to them.
The world is yet full of noble-hearted beings. Rashmi’s Smile Trust (RST), a group of such vibrant, generous and lovely humans, took up an initiative of aligning with the intention of the stakeholders of the institute at Gandulwad and commenced a drive towards the cause.
The idea was to raise funds to cater towards the necessary requirements including the painting of the school walls, bore well water pump system, repairing the bathroom doors, installing 50 bunk beds, flour machine, fan and water purifier. Besides, for the motivation of the kids and to share love & receive blessings, some stuff viz. Books, T-shirts, Leggings, Undergarments, Towels and a snack goody bag was shared with the cute little beings.
The total project cost was estimated at around INR 500K and the plan was to fulfil the primary stuff before we visit them. We wanted to experience the reaction of the kids and hence the visit was planned on 15/Jul/2018. I feel so glad that the group happily accommodated me and three of my friends for the same.
We started off at 9 am and after a delicious breakfast halt (RST didn’t allow me to pay and I owe them one treat :P) and amid extreme pouring, cruising through the highway first and then enjoying the lust green countryside, we reached the soul-soothing place at around 12 noon.
To start with, our chief guest a renowned Obstetrician-gynaecologist, who has numerous accolades to his credit, inaugurated the bore well pump that was set up right outside the school building. Post that, we visited the classroom that were in neat condition but deserted since it was a Sunday. We planted 5 saplings; eventually 1000 trees will be grown.
The next stop for us was the residence that was bang opposite the school. Soon as we entered, we were welcomed by them with a thrilling Lezim dance complemented with a heart pulsating Dhol music. It was so enthralling that we also started tapping our feet and in no time, we joined them. The environment was full of happiness and bliss.
We moved ahead and visited all the rooms and each room was uniquely and nicely decorated, using only basic things like leaves, flowers and earthen lamps. The staff was extremely engaging and they along with kids expressed their gratitude towards us. In each room, there was at least one kid who spoke in front of all of us and blessed us with kind words. We all felt extremely touched when the kids expressed that due to the newly installed bunk beds, they will be able to sleep comfortably and will face no issues with weather and insects that used to be more or less a daily case when they would sleep on the floor. Our hearts and eyes were filled with tears, while we were letting the beds open to the kids for use.
Each room packed our hearts and soul with an exceptional feeling and it was incomparable. In one of the rooms, they displayed a magic show and a couple of scientific experiments. The students were more than excited and had put in paramount efforts.
Next, all the students gathered in a huge community hall and the management arranged a stage for all the volunteers. Turn by turn, we ignited the lamps depicting the formal start to the activity. Once comfortably seated, each one of us was introduced to the kids and the management in a very generous manner by one of the chief volunteers who is a popular medical practitioner and a gold medallist. As we were introduced, each of us received a rose from the staff; what an amazing feeling it was. A fantastic speech was delivered by the doctor and it was summed up in a wonderful manner by articulating her wish to see the kids on the stage once they grow and serve the society by carrying on the legacy. Kids were convinced that this could be the best way of expressing gratitude.
The kids were extremely disciplined after we announced that we will be sharing some love in form of gifts. On their own, they formed a queue and very silently and happily they blessed us by accepting the stuff that was sent by almighty and delivered by us.
The icing on the cake was the delicious and mouth-watering lunch prepared by the school staff for us. Post filling our hearts with joy and love, they helped us fuel in our abdominal.
We started our journey back home, which ended at around 9pm in the night, while the incredible experience is still more than fresh and shall last for quite some time to come.
Love you all, while personally thanking each one of you who were the part and heart of this sustainable cause.
PS: The school gets a grant of INR 30 per kid per day (only for resident students) and in this petty amount, the management has to cover food and stay related expenses.
Love and Prayers,
D
