Idlys, Cows and one Thambi

0500 hrs Saturday 
September 8, 2012
Looking out my window, I was imagining myself rowing my way to SRP tools in a canoe because I could only see a heavy downpour.
0635 hrs
Me stubbornly standing in the rain at SRP tools, while the whole of my body was saying run back and sleep! (My mind and body are always at conflict!!)
0840hrs
The bus had picked up all the volunteers and was speeding off to Villupuram. But wait before that we had Breakfast :D :D :D :D

After a light breakfast of 2 idlies, 1 vada, a scoop of pongal and kesari I seriously don’t remember much as I was floating in a cloud of satisfaction with a full tummy :P A solitary palm tree on a hill, two kids playing beside the road with a cycle tyre, a solitary brown and white cow grazing on a field, Mani splitting us into groups for each class before sleep got the better of me. (Bus and full stomach are good companions :) )

Sitting next to me, Hari woke me up. I eagerly looked out the window expecting to see frolicking children playing on a ground, but I was looking at a whole herd of cows! Should I dress up like a cow with fake horns and talk moo moo to them? It took me a few seconds to realize that I should lift my horizon and see the school building. Thankfully it was full of high school kids and not cows and tigers :P ( Cows are docile but I would have been in the tigers’ tummy even before I opened my mouth!)

First were poster competitions. Covering themes like pollution, social service and conservation students filled their charts with pictures, colors and streaks of their own creativity. After the presentations we had a crash photo session with students bustling around us volunteers to get a picture with their favorite “Akkas” and “Annas”. (I was precariously on top of a chair to take the picture. Very scary!!! )

Lunch was also fun with the students who were volunteering to serve the rice and payasam. (My favorite!). Post lunch, we volunteers were having our share of fun with Kho Kho, cricket and one new one that I learnt. Everyone will run around in a circle and one person will say a number, for zero we should sit, for one we stand and for every other number we should hug each other as groups of that number :D (I will call it the huggie huggie game :) )  Games were also conducted for the students in different classes too.

After the games we were all assembled in the ground for prize distribution for poster competition and also a few kids came on stage to share how that day was their first time to get a prize and also how they have done a share in social service :) As usual I was sitting with my new found friends during the prize distribution. Everyone was discussing who will get the prize for poster contest. When the result was announced for 6th grade, 9th grade Banu sitting beside me was jumping with joy “ennude Thambi!! ennude Thambi!!” (My young brother!!) She was so happy that her brother got a prize.

After the prizes were handed out Banu told me with twinkling eyes –“I didn’t mind when I didn’t get a gift. But my Thambi is very happy, this will mean a lot to him. It will mean a lot to us if you all can come again. We just want to become like you, to bring happiness to the world.”

Isn’t this what Making a Difference is all about? We are not powerful politicians that make or break nations, we are not inspiring teachers that enlighten the mind and soul, yet to bring a smile on one girl’s face, To ignite a spark of hope in a 6th grader’s heart also counts.