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| Youth enjoying volunteering - Photo: SOS Archives |
During their vacations, 21 children of the 'Young Star Club' of SOS Children's Village Itahari helped build houses for the extremely poor sections of society. The club members also saved their pocket money and bought books and stationeries for the children of beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries are known as Dalits (untouchables) and are regarded as pariah; their situation is generally pathetic drawn against the background of most complex cast structures in South Asia. Many of them would be taken in the fold of SOS family strengthening programmes and micro-finance scheme of SOS Children's Villages.
"We always wanted to help out these poor people who work as daily wagers, and most of the time they are out of work, and top of it they are considered untouchable; their children are going through extreme misery," says Indra Magar, one of the Club members.
The people in the vicinity were happy and supported the children. "We appreciate the children's effort, and I am sure the small gestures by these youngsters from SOS Children's Village Itahari will actually inspire many people to help the downtrodden in society." says a community leader.
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| Children applying clay on the wall of one of the newly built houses - Photo: SOS Archives |
Habitat for Humanity sponsored the housing project and the children from SOS Children's Village Itahari volunteered. For 15 days, 'SOS Young Star Club' members worked hard along with the community members.
"We helped in constructing about ten houses made of bamboo, green bricks and metal sheets used for roofing. Bamboo is used in doors, windows, walls and other things. Clay is applied to the walls to protect it from the sun and water and also maintain the temperature," says Kalpana Thapa of the 'SOS Young Star Club'.
But there was even more to it than that, as the 'SOS Young Star Club' members saved their pocket money and bought books and stationeries for the children of beneficiaries. "These people are illiterate and their children also have no means for studying. We counselled them about the importance of education and provided books and other things," says Binod.
"Our endeavour in the club is always to volunteer for something substantive and learn something new, too," reckons Umesh Giri, who also edits the Young Star Club magazine, the 'Young Creation'.
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| Members of the "SOS Young Star Club" - Photo: SOS Archives |
"It augurs well for society at large when children understand and voluntarily initiate actions that are reformist in nature and should have come from grown-ups; this should be encouraged," says Shubha Murthi, Continental Director of SOS Children's Villages in Asia, who was present at the occasion when the newly-built houses were handed over to the occupants.
"This sort of volunteer works will be continued in future. It has sent out a strong message of helping and sharing and is very much appreciated by the community. I always encourage volunteer work, and children have an opportunity to learn about the realities on the ground," says Ramesh Tamarkar, director of the SOS Children's Village in Itahari.
SOS Children's Village Itahari is home to 147 children and located in the Sunsari district near the border with India. Benefited by the two main highways which crisscross the town, Itahari is ready to shed its image of small municipality, and the increasing commercial activities affecting the general lives here. The SOS Youth Facility is located nearby Biratnagar, a commercial town.