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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.

‘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.’

I consider it a great honour to have this opportunity to be able to share a few thoughts with you all. I consider this as a privilege for me to involve for the development of poor and needy children in West Bengal, India. I am here today due to financial, moral support and proper guidance of my parents during my childhood. My son is getting good education today because of our help. Neither I nor my son is extraordinary / better than them. The basic different is getting opportunity and proper guidance.

We are the only hope and light in the life of these children. I truly believe that if we stand beside them and if we support them, if we guide them in the right path, they can be like us tomorrow. Here is our role comes. If I want to walk fast, I need to walk alone but if I want to walk far, I need to walk together. We (SEED) need to walk far together with you.

We are working for building the generation. To build the generation we require hard work, dedication, sacrifice, commitment, love, concern, contribution and so on. You are the people who are having all these qualities to help us to build the new generation in India. Without you we are nothing. You only can bring the smile on the face of these children.

We are so grateful to you for your support. One day we will see a new creation because of your support. Let us join hand and continue to do our BEST to build the new generation. Thank you.       

I feel very proud to work here and invest in the life of little ones. There are direct and indirect reasons why I love and like this work. Direct reasons are:

• Children and parents trust us and love us so much & they wait every day when we will come
• They think that we genuinely will help and can solve all their problem
• I like to organize cultural programs with children because they like that part the best and I could explore children’s talent in different areas
• I love the children so much that if anyone says anything to children I get upset, I am not bothered about the bad environment and other difficulties because I know my work worth all the sacrifice
• I want to do this work because the society does not think for them, they are abandoned by everyone. Our investment is giving an opportunity to them to study and do some good things in their life. If we were not there they would have still be in darkness

Some indirect reasons are:

• We can make mistakes and through that we can learn. No one tries to find fault and accuse. It is a very healthy environment to work.
• Our managers help us a lot. They teach us and help us to work more effectively.
• When we do something good, we get appreciation, which motivate us to do more good work.

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.

When first I joined as teacher of Karunamoyee project that time the whole community was very unclean. They used to keep the surroundings very unclean and it was smelly. But after we started the work here and with constantly helping them to understand the importance of keeping the surroundings clean, now they are keeping their children and the surrounding much cleaner. I feel very happy that directly we are able to impact in their lifestyle. Now children who never used to wear school dress or shoes are coming to the project dressed up. Now they are learning good manners and avoiding using abusive language. They understand the importance of studies now. 26 new children were admitted to school with our help in 2016. They were very poor and parents were unable to send to school. We have purchased all school supplies and given admission fees. I feel very proud because through us these children who would have been maid servant or given early marriage are getting an opportunity to study. Our work is developing this generation and I am an instrument who is involved in this great change.