::The Children Project:: IN THEIR OWN VOICE

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The Children

In Their Own Voice

IN THEIR OWN VOICE

It is our goal to restore the dignity of childhood to each child in our program. Many of them have been in very abusive situations and you might say their childhood has been stolen from them. We offer them a safe place to be who they are.

CPT functions around the model that the children's needs come first. We have seen that in spite of hardships children, when they are given love, nurturance and respect, are able reclaim their innocence, purity and connection with source energy. It's much easier for them to recognize who they are and accept the truth of the divine light within them than it is for adults.

In their own words, here are some of their experiences:

A Quiet Place

When I sit in a quiet place I feel peace, joy and love.
I feel God inside me
I feel I am special
I feel I am giving love to the world
I feel like I am light
I am God, I am peace, I am joy, I am love
I feel God everywhere.
I feel quiet.
When it is quiet I hear different kinds of sounds
I feel I am hearing songs
And when I close my eyes, I feel I am playing with God
And my family and friends.

~ Lakshmi, Age 10

How I Came to Uncle & Aunty

I didn't know Uncle and Aunty. My mother went to see them and worked for them for a few days. She asked Uncle if she could bring my sister and me to school. He said, "Yes," and my mother brought my sister and me. When I saw Uncle and Aunty I was afraid of them so I asked my mother who they were and she told me they were my uncle and aunty. My mother said if I did naughty things I would get a beating. I was more afraid. After a few days I knew Uncle and Aunty would never beat us. The other children were friends with me and some of my relatives were here and I loved them very much.

After a few months Uncle went somewhere and he came back and told us that he saw a beautiful place. We all asked about that place. After a few days Uncle went to build some houses for us to live in. After a few months we asked Uncle if the houses were ready or not. He said that some houses were ready. We were all happy. We asked Uncle the place name and he said it was called Coorg. When we went I was a little sad but my mother said that she would come and visit me and I was so happy. When we were riding in the bus to Coorg we sang songs. I was so happy. I LOVE GOD.

~ Lakshmi, Age 10

When I was born I used to be with my mother and her sister. When I was 5 years old I was in one school and they were beating me very hard. I used to go to the puja [worship] and I would pray to get prasadam [consecrated food]. After a few days I didn't want to go to this school. I was crying and Uncle and Aunty told my older sister and me that we could come and visit them in their flat. I liked them very much.

My name is Eswaramma. When I was very small I saw Swami. When I was small I didn't know how to smile or play. Aunty used to put me on her lap and hop like a horse. Uncle was making jokes but I didn't smile at all. Now I know how to smile and play.

~ Easwaramma, Age 10

My name is Anji. When I was home I didn't have food to eat and clothes to wear. I was not going to school properly. When I am here I have now food to eat and clothes to wear. My uncle and aunty are very nice. I am now going to school daily. Uncle and Aunty teach us very nicely. Now we are happy. What we want to do we can do. Now we are studying very well. I am now in fourth class I like to study very well. My favorite movie is Cinderella. My favorite food is spicy food. This is Anji with our love

~ Written in 2006

New Children

Four new children arrived at the school with Michael Uncle in January. These kids needed our aid because they had been on the streets and were sleeping under the trees. Here they wished to study all about new things.

I asked Uncle how he managed to bring these children here and he said, as always, there was a knock at the door in Puttaparthi. Uncle opened it and saw a bunch of kids in front of him. They hugged him. They had always used to cry because they had wanted to come to this school and their parents used to beat them all the time.

So Uncle with the new kids, as a temporary family, started to have gatherings. Visitors came to his apartment. But the children returned home each evening after the gatherings were over.

The kids really wanted to come to Coorg so the nights when there were no meetings they banged on the door at 11 o'clock to see Uncle. Finally, after many of these visits, Uncle spoke with the kids' parents and after they all agreed, he gathered the kids together and brought them to Bangalore. They stayed there for three days on the way to Coorg. There in Bangalore, Uncle and another teacher took care of them and taught them good manners: how to use the toilet, eat food without making a mess, and not to shout, etc. so they could live with us and not create a huge disturbance. They were very happy to come with Uncle and no longer yearned to live with their parents.

Most of the other kids had not gone to an academy before, except for one little girl. In her village she had been very sick with malaria for a long time. Now she is healthy; she is dancing and singing. We are very glad to have these kids here and are very appreciative of them.

~ Anji, Age 15

The Feeling That Makes us Happy

There is so much love between us that we share it back and forth. It is always flowing through us but sometimes we forget that it's there in us. In order to remind us that love is never going to stop it's duty, I wrote a poem about love.

The feeling that makes us happy
The feeling that gives us joy
The feeling that has no name, love

Holds us in its arms
Grabs any pain we have
Goes into us and mends our holes
Gives us a sweet taste in our mouths

It is so large that we can have as much as we want
Everything wants to have part of it
But we don't understand that
We bring the love into the world

I love you is a gift
It needs to be said to people we love
The three worlds make the dark shine
Sadness becomes joy
Tears turn into nectar

We should know that
There's always a person who loves us
Nobody must be left out not being loved
Need help, ask someone close to you
Never let yourself down
Never lose hope

~ Dana, Age 16

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