Welkom bij Seed Netherlands

Working in SEED Society is a privilege for me. I thank God for the opportunity that He has given me to work with children. I feel extremely happy to spend time with children as they share their joy, happiness and sorrows everything. Not only children but whenever mothers face any problem they come to us and share so that we could solve that. They feel we are the people whom they could trust and believe. When I come to the project or go home from the project children shout aunty aunty with so much love and respect which I love. I specially like the way SEED works in a community and how through the work we are able to make a difference. We go deeper to each of the problem like when a child becomes quiet suddenly or fearful or shows resentment, we know that child is going through some problem. So we talk with family and try to understand the context. The best part of my job is when I am able to solve the problem of a child and bring them in a normal stream. I want to see their bright future. My achievement will be when I will see my children established well in the society.

‘Ik ben Mampi en ik woon in Calcutta met mijn moeder, twee zusjes en een broer. We wonen in de Kalpar slum, met ongeveer 500 andere mensen. Calcutta is een heel grote stad. In Calcutta wonen bijna net zoveel mensen als in Nederland. Seed helpt ons, zodat ik, mijn zusjes en mijn broer naar school kunnen.

’s Morgen om half zes sta ik op. Mama is dan al weg naar haar werk. Ze is schoonmaakster een paar straten verderop.

Vandaag is er geen ontbijt. Vanmiddag mag ik uit school rijst kopen. Aardappels en rijst zijn soms te duur of mama heeft geen tijd gehad om te koken. Het lekkerst vind ik rijst en aardappels als ontbijt, maar vaak hebben we thee en een biscuitje of broodje.

Ik loop zelf naar school, of ik moet geluk hebben en dan rijd ik mee met de buurman op zijn riksja. Hij is chauffeur, zoals heel veel mannen uit de slum.

Ik moet elke dag een uniform aan. Elke school heeft een andere kleur uniform. Wij hebben een groen uniform. Andere scholen hebben wit en rood, of wit en zwart.

De school begint vandaag om acht uur. Dat is mijn favoriete schooldag, want dan kan ik ’s middags nog even spelen met mijn vriendinnetjes. Andere schooldagen beginnen pas om half elf, dan moet ik om half vier direct naar huis. Ik ga zes dagen per week naar school, alleen zondag zijn we vrij.

Mijn favoriete vak is Engels. In rekenen ben ik niet zo goed. Daarnaast krijgen we Bengali (taalles), aardrijkskunde, geschiedenis, natuurkunde etcetera.

Tussen de middag krijgen we soms lunch op school. Meestal niet.

Na schooltijd moet ik mijn mama helpen.’s Avonds maak ik nog wat huiswerk voor school. We hebben geen tv, computer of iets anders. ’s Avonds is het saai. Ik ga vaak vroeg slapen met mijn zusjes en broer.

Nog twee jaar naar deze school, dan ben ik 10 jaar en ga ik naar de Secondary school. Later wil ik lerares worden.’

It brings an enormous joy and satisfaction to me when I consider the work I am involved in. We are given only one life and it really matters what I have done in my life and what impact I have made so that people will remember me for my good deeds when I am gone from this earth. This work has given me a new identity. I am happy that through my little sacrifice, effort, love, hard work, compassion some lives could be built. I am very happy and satisfied with the life changing process I am involved in. The work started 8 years back with a burden to do something for the poor and needy children who are ignored completely. They had no opportunity to prove their talents. Their lives were running under the vicious cycle of poverty. It was just an attempt to do something for them. The first day when I saw the children playing on a garbage dump and came to know that none of the children go to school. On the contrary they work from very early age and fall under the trap of alcoholism, gambling etc. There were no future, no hope for these communities. No one really loved them and cared for them. Domestic violence, abuse was also very prominent. When slowly we started working we could see the chance started taking place. Children found a new home where they are loved and cared. They did not know the meaning of dream. They had never thought about their life. But now they dream, they dream for their future….they want to be teacher, police, musician, computer engineer, doctor etc. They do not work as a domestic helper from the age of 5, but they go to school now. Their parents have also understood the importance of education. Children now use less abusive words; they are disciplined and well mannered. Women who were domestic helper before, now working as a tailor or beautician in a beauty parlour with much dignity and confidence. It is just a matter of opportunity which we were able to provide.

A little opportunity and help can make a huge difference. We are in the process of building children’s lives and you are our partner to this noble work. It would not have been possible without you. Thank you so much for being part of this process of building generations breaking the shackles of poverty. We are very grateful for your support.