Be a Child to be with a Child

November 20, 2011

Childhood is about innocence and playfulness. It is about joy and freedom. It’s a phase of life that is generally cherished and craved to be relived. And, one such day is Children’s Day when a grown-up can be a child, to be with a child.

Universally, Children’s Day is celebrated on November 20 every year. But in India it is celebrated on November 14, because the date marks the birth anniversary of legendary freedom fighter and independent India’s first Prime Minister – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was passionate about children and a champion for their welfare and rights.

PCI India observed Children’s Day by organizing a painting competition and cultural & sports activities in association with the Delhi Medical Association on November 14, 2011 at their Open Hall. Around 250 children and adolescents between the age group of 8-18 participated. They were from Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program areas of Red Fort, Nizammudin, New Seemapuri and Mewat in Haryana. Peer educators and staff of PCI also joined the celebrations.

V.S. Gurumani, Country Director of PCI India in his message stated that ‘OVC, which is our legacy programme reaches out to about 4000 underprivileged children every year’. He recalled the famous maxim by Neil Postman that ‘Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see’, and said that children need our love and attention. We should therefore endeavour to make childhood a phase of happiness and learning'.

In the painting competition the children were asked to sketch and colour their thoughts and opinions on topics like ‘Save the Water’ and ‘Steps towards Combating Pollution in Delhi’.

Jyoti, who won the first prize, stated that ‘I love to play the strokes as I can express my creativity. Painting is not merely my hobby but I also want to further make it as my career. I aspire to become a famous artist one day, just like late M.F. Hussain’.

In cultural activity, a street play and patriotic singing competition was organized. Youth from the Shelter Home left the audience spell bound with their performance in the play on child rights. The audience was completely floored and the applause resonated in the hall for long.

There were outdoor sport activities too. Sack , 100 meter and lemon and spoon races were organized. It was a fun-filled activity with a strong spirit of friendly competition. Children, who didn’t participate in the activity, joined as spectators and bolstered their comrades.

Dr. Vinod Khetarpal, President, Delhi Medical Association and also the Chief Guest for the occasion applauded PCI India for their consistent efforts in changing the lives of the children and youth and making them responsible citizens of the nation. He quoted, “We all have lived as a child. And, we all know how crucial the stage of childhood is and what countless efforts goes in a child's upbringing. It’s just not the parent’s task but also of a family, society, school, mentor and peers. Yet there is a percentage of populace of young ones especially the downtrodden that can barely feed or clothe themselves. We should come together and make a difference in their lives”.