Evening at the Orphanage

Last night, we visited the orphanage. Ravinder Rawat, the concierge supervisor, did a lot of shopping on my behalf. Ted Rivera (shown right, while in the New Delhi outdoor market), Lokesh Kasana (shown in previous post), and I spent Sunday shopping for supplies (previous post). After class yesterday, we drove over there. Ted and Lokesh were unable to join us, but had contributed greatly in effort and money. The Radisson hotel in Noida donated the car service to get over there.

There is no way to convey the experience of visiting the orphanage. Several children were blind or partially blind. One was adverse to any physical contact. They all mobbed me and Ravinder. Some were more reticent, almost hanging back with eyes that said, "can you see me?"  It was sad and joyful and overwhelming. We stayed for an hour.  Fifty children, all of whom simply wanted to be touched and seen and heard.

Ravinder and I spent the entire time there holding the small children, and finally I found myself sitting on the ground outside on the grass, and just letting them crawl on me and play with my hair. The girls took out my hair clips and put them in and out and in - styling my hair. One little boy kept cupping my face in his hands and looking closely into my eyes. They wanted to practice their English (a lot of pointing at body parts and laughter). We handed out juice boxes, and then carried in a ton of food stuffs, detergent, clothing, toothpaste - even a cricket bat and some balls. One girl showed off riding a bike around the perimeter. How much these children just want to be seen and held! I particularly wanted to take home the girl who was 11 or 12 (she didn't know her age exactly). So smart (shown here).

The total cost of this excursion was 11,400 rupees - or about $228 dollars. The most shocking moment to me came when I saw the newborn intensive care unit they had set up in a small room. There was an incubator and a light box to help reduce bilirubin.One caretaker named Elsi is a nurse. She said they are trying to raise money to buy a machine for suctioning children in the NICU. Cost? 10,000 rupees. About $200. Ravinder is investigating this on my behalf and looking into a purchase.


Here are some pictures. What can I say? Words really can never do this experience justice. I regret I didn't ask Ravinder last time for help in escaping Disney India. If anyone is interested in contributing to this cause, please let me know.

Here is the big group of older children who spent the next hour climbing all over me. The caretakers were vaguely appalled that I was outside sitting in the mud. But, oh well .. I have access to hot showers and laundry service, right? What's more important, anyway?

There were probably 8 cribs containing from 1 to 3 babies and small toddlers. The boy on the right had just turned five months old and could not stop exercising his newly found ability to smile and smile.

Ravinder in the midst of children. Can you find him?

Here is my favorite 11- or 12-year-old girl. She was just all over me. (Hint: she has the word "Girl" on her t-shirt.) The girl to my right who is looking at me was also very interactive, but when I went to pick her up, she was very scared. The little boy in blue was the one who kept touching my face. The caretaker was the one who was unsure of this crazy lady sitting on the ground with the children. The child in the orange dress in front was the girl who wanted to ride her bike for me.

The children called me "Dee-Dee," which I found out meant "Sister." I asked if it was a Catholic orphanage and was told it is non-denominational. Ravinder was very pleased they called me this - it felt like an honor to me to be considered their sister.

Here is a child that could not stop smiling - I am holding her in my arms. The caretakers were very worried because she had wet her diaper - but come on - there is probably bigger risk lurking in the fruit bowl at the hotel than there is in holding this child. Notice in the lower area of the photo: that child is completely blind and has been for six years of her life. I also spent a lot of time holding her close. It was a gift to be with the children. Thanks for following this entry through the entire thing.