A Heartwarming Encounter; Meet Nilu.

This is dedicated to Nilu. A 10 year old super girl at Than Singh Ki Pathsala in Delhi. The children attending this school are mostly children who have a father, but not a mother. Their fathers are dedicated to informal commerce, earning between 1 and 2 dollars a day.

Nilu is such a warm and sweet child with a bold and loving spirit. Her inquisitive mind knows no bounds. She was a little timid at first but soon after, literally a minute into me speaking with her, her personality came forward and we bonded in our moments together.

Nilu speaks English very well, in fact it’s her favourite subject. She has a best friend and she wants to be an IPS Officer (Indian Police Service) when she grows up, to protect the girls ( her friends). Nilu made me so proud of her when she charismatically acted out the role of a daughter hungry for education in a street play.

Nilu may be tiny but her heart, her voice, her spirit is so so big. She’s such a bold child and I know that with the right nurturing and care, she will be amazing in her future endeavors. 

One of the activities we did on our visit was one of affirmations. We helped the children write their dreams on a kite and set them into the sky. Nilu wrote her dream of becoming an IPS officer on the kite but also wrote a message for me! “Andrea mam you are great, I am proud of you.” Imagine, hearing those words from a child whose circumstances were against her but the light in her heart burns so brilliantly. I cried so much that afternoon with how touching the experience was. Nilu’s words stay with me now and forever.

If we could all be a light in the life of a child who needs it, the world would be a better place. In the hearts and minds of children you find a world where love, joy and imagination knows no limits. Let us nurture our children and love them correctly. Thank you Than Singh for the role you play in Nilu’s life and all the children in your school.