Most are familiar with the story of the National Award-winning film Kaaka Muttai where the protagonists, siblings living in a slum, think of ways to earn enough money to buy a pizza. On Thursday, the wish to eat a pizza for the first time came true for 25 boys from the Vivekananda Home. The surprise party has been organised by a group of friends to celebrate DaanUtsav (Joy of Giving Week as it was known earlier).
The children have had a fun day with a visit to the chocolate kitchen of the Zuka chocolate shop. As they dig into the pizzas, the verdict is almost unanimous: the children love the pizza! When asked if the pizza is sweet or spicy, Santhosh Kumar, one of the boys, answers, “It is a mixture of tastes. It is superb!” The boys try out chilli flakes, oregano and sauce on their slices.
Srinath Balachandran, one of the friends who organised the party says, “We have been getting birthday cakes for the children. Once, when we asked at the children’s home if they had tried pizza, they said no. One of the children then told us that he would like to try it. This is how we thought of this surprise pizza party for the children.”
DaanUtsav encourages philanthropy in India by getting people from different walks of life to participate and contribute. Launched in 2009, it is celebrated in the week of Gandhi Jayanti, from October 2 to 8 every year.
Finding a new use
When The Study L’ecole Internationale found that it had more than 3,000 new notebooks which the school could not use because of a change in curriculum design, the students pitched in to donate these to the Child Welfare Committee to be distributed to care homes for children.
More than new 5,000 kindergarten sports uniform clothes were also donated when the uniform pattern changed.
Gifting an experience
The Joy of Giving does not just equate to donating money. It can be about sharing a joyous day, like in the case of the pizza party, where the children got to partake in a unique experience. “The Joy of Giving Week inspires people to share. It doesn’t have to be something flamboyant. It can be a smile, a gesture of kindness to others,” says Mr. Balachandran.
The Rotary Club of Pondicherry Beach Town continued their regular ‘wish list’ programme for children from the Regional Cancer Centre, JIPMER for this week too. The club attempts to fulfil the wishes of the children, whether it is getting a soft toy or a carom board.
Gifting time
One of the most valuable gifts is that of time. Children with Special Needs from the Satya Special School showed how this is done with a visit to the Mahatma Gandhi Old Age Home where they spent time with the residents and took soup for everyone to share. The school and students also pitched in to buy a kettle for the old age home. “Children with disabilities can also contribute. They do not always have to be at the receiving end,” says Chitra Shah, director, Satya Special School.
Earlier in the week, the students from the Kodathur branch put up a dance programme for the villagers and shared sandwiches made by them. While the event officially end on October 8, celebrations continue with the CWC planning to hold an evening programme some time later at the Beach Promenade, where families and children can contribute things for children from care homes. These can include biscuits, toys, books, suitcases, buckets and mugs, says CWC chairperson Vidyaa Ramkumar.
