Bridging the Gap

Catching Up

“Good morning, Neev, Dada (brother in Bengali), how are you?

As I enter the Calcutta Social Project's (CSP) shelter, I am greeted with bright smiles and a chorus of cheerful voices. The children rush towards me, their faces lit up with excitement. My heart immediately warms. I give them all hugs and then enter Mohuna’s office, the newly appointed CEO of the CSP. Inside her office, she welcomes me and asks how my flight was.  “Long” I say, remembering the 14-hour international flight. 

We talk for a bit, reflecting back on the progress of the weekly mentoring sessions that I hold for the boys and girls of the shelter and discuss logistics about the schedule for the new year. Mohuna tells me how excited the kids are in anticipation of our weekly sessions “It’s the highlight of their week!” She exclaims “They have so much fun with your quizzes. They learn so much about America, the world and about sports.”

Many of these children came to the shelter from the Kolkata slums. They have either been abandoned, or living in poor conditions often overcrowded, with families living in makeshift shanties that lack proper ventilation light and proper sanitary conditions. Children in slums often face barriers to education due to economic instability and the need to work to support their families.  The children’s shelter run by Calcutta Social Project has evolved to address broader anti-poverty measures, including qualitative education as well as structured regimen of sports to give these girls and boys an opportunity to break free from their cycle of inherited stigma, poverty and domestic violence. 

I had started this project a year ago as a way to continue my grandmother’s legacy on tutoring and mentoring young Rahul. My goal has been to give back to the community in the same way that my grandfather continues to. But what I never would imagine how I would form a bond with this group of children.

Mohuna told me that some of the children were away for a Taekwondo competition and would be back next week from Goa. It is then Rita approached and asked, “Neev Dada do you want to play soccer?” Sport and play are important aspects of childhood. And regardless of socio-economic status, these children from the CSP are offered access to safe spaces and organized athletics. I nod my head excitedly and we make a plan to play soccer in the nearby Deshopriya Park two days from now. “Let’s meet at 10 am” I say. Rita comes from a large family of 6. The father does not work. The mother provides for the entire family by working as a tailor. Their tenement is broken down and the wages of her mother do not always provide food on the table. Rita is a great athlete and wants to make a career in Sports Management. Rita is in 8th grade, and I have been tutoring her in Physics and Chemistry over the last year. 

Match of Soccer 

The sun was high and bright even at 10 am. A line of 14 children all dressed in orange t-shirts, orange shorts were patiently waiting for me Deshapriya Park after their traditional breakfast of rice, fish and boiled potatoes. It was girl’s vs boys. Since Sid, the coordinator for the Street Children’s Education Program joined the boy’s group, I joined the girls! “Goaaaaal” they scored the first goal. But it was not before long the girls team scored. The captain of the girl’s team was Mariam, the oldest of three siblings who had lost her father. Her step father is a truck driver and was diagnosed to be HIV positive. Since then, her mother and step baby brother also tested HIV positive. Due to societal stigma finding work has been extremely difficult for her mother and step father. Mariam is in class 12 and a talented soccer player and has won many awards. Mariam displayed excelled leadership qualities on the field. She hopes for a future in tourism management after graduating next year. 

Presents and Goodbyes

My time in Kolkata was wrapping up. But I was really looking forward to my final visit of the week to CSP. The children who were at the Tae Kwon Do competition would be back! I reached the shelter once again to be greeted with warmth. “Hello Neev” said Meera with a bright smile, peer mentor for the organization. We have been working together closely coordinating the logistics of the peer mentoring sessions as well as Rita’s tutoring sessions over the last year. It was so good to see her in-person again! Meera came to shelter at age 6. Her family consists of her single mother who was shunned out of the family home after the death of Meera’s father. The in-laws kept her brother but there was no place for Meera’s mother or her. Meera grew up in the shelter. She is now pursuing a diploma in multi-media and animation at Xavier’s College in Kolkata. I have great admiration for her qualities of resilience. 

I handed over the matchbox cars, the pencil cases and candy that I had brought for the CSP children. “Neev, we brought you chocolates from Goa!” exclaimed Meera. The morning flew by connecting and chatting with the children. And soon it was time to say goodbyes. “I’ll see you next weekend on zoom when I’m back in New York” I reminded them waving as I left the shelter with a heavy heart.

As I once again sat in Terminal 2 of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, waiting to board the 14-hour flight back to New York, it felt different compared to last year. It felt like I was taking the children back with me to New York. This time, the visit felt very different. I had created a bond so strong with them over the year that I felt part of their family. I couldn’t help but wonder how children so young having gone through unfortunate and adverse circumstances could be so full of warmth and affection. It also struck me that while I had started the peer mentoring and tutoring sessions to help the children of the shelter, it was I who was learning so much from them!  

*In order to safeguard the anonymity of individuals, certain names have been modified.