Visit to Desire Society

 

22 students of IBDP class XI visited the Desire Society - an orphanage home to HIV positive children. They have a home here in Hyderabad, one in Chennai and one in Bangalore. At the society, the children ranged from the ages of 3years to 15years. First off, the main purpose for our visit was to bring a smile to those children’s faces. We went there with plans of teaching the children basic mathematics, and other activities, and even planned out some games for them. Due to lack of time, we divided ourselves into groups and played with them. One group played caroms, we played football, and the other was taught Origami. There were about 30 children when we went, but the orphanage is home to around 50. However, they reached out to 200 more HIV positive children who actually had a family who they stayed with.

What I personally found amazing, that inspired me so much, was the smile on these children’s faces. They knew that they were sick, and would die eventually, but still, continued to go to school and were more than eager to learn. The fact that despite they were ill, they managed to enjoy life really made me see how strong they were.

A concern, which was really unnecessary, that we faced was that many of the parents and the students were unwilling to visit these children out of fear, but the head there explained us how it really isn’t hazardous. It is nearly impossible to pick up any disease, or even HIV from them, however, when we go there, we are carrying diseases to them, because they have very weak and the suppressed immune systems.

This society pays for all medical attention of these children, and these expenses are very high. The government doesn’t pay enough for these children. They even have a doctor and a nurse to pay. They send blood samples across every month to Chennai for testing. They pay for transport and everything. Money and resources is a challenge they face. The desire society does accept donations, and we who have everything and more should really stop and think of these children, help them live a better, long life.

Anisha alla

IBDP XI