The reopening of schools on Monday witnessed the usual sight of children carrying brand-new study materials and being accompanied by their parents to their schools. But what about the underprivileged students who have none to provide for them and accompany them on an occasion that normally has most children anxious? Nearly 800 children belonging to orphanages and shelter homes in the city were given a reason to cheer by non-governmental organisation, Make a Difference (MAD), whose volunteers accompanied them to the schools on the reopening day.
In association with a private radio station, the NGO conducted the ‘School goes MAD’ programme. Volunteers of the NGO accompanied the children of Sree Chitra Home, East Fort; Hindu Mahila Mandiram, Poojappura; CSI Wills Girls’ Boarding Home, LMS; and Sacred Hearts, Nalanchira; to their schools. “We were all blessed enough to have someone hold our hands on such moments of nervousness. However, these less-fortunate children have none to share their concerns with. The sense of insecurity faced by them was what prompted us to undertake the initiative,” says Gopikrishna R. of MAD Trivandrum.
He says study kits, stationary items and water bottles were given to the children, ensuring they had a moment to cherish on the first day of the new academic year.
