S.K.I.D - Day 0.

Sheila Kothavala Institute for the Deaf.

Hi, I'm Ruchika, a founding member of a group that goes by the name BRO. No, you read it right. It stands for Bangalore Reach Organisation. 

At the beginning of my summer, I made a promise to myself. Not to let another season waste by in a lull of watching TV and eating chips. I thought of all the things that were within my price range and a worthwhile experience. I remembered a time where I'd accompany my grandmother to orphanages to visit the underprivileged and how ecstatic I felt when they sent me handmade birthday cards every year!

So, now that I was old enough to venture out and see the world for myself, I asked my mom if she knew any schools that would be willing to let me help out. She asked one of her good friends, who has been doing a lot of work with children for a long time now. She put me in contact with a lovely principal named Ms. J* and that's when I first had the opportunity to start volunteering at this lovely institution. 

I was pretty overwhelmed on the first day to be honest. With limited knowledge about the language they communicated through (most awareness coming through a TV show:P) and 13 kids rapidly moving their palms trying to relay their excitement, a compassionate, patient class teacher (Ms. B*) was a welcome escape on the first day. 

After getting familiar with the way the class works, and how to they go about a typical day, I immediately decided to text a good friend (with permission from Ms. B, of course) to come help out. We spent the time filling out homework books for Math, Science, Language and Social Studies. In the evening, Ms. B thought it would be a good idea for us to learn the letters in SL (Sign Language) from 12 year old P*. At first, we were curious as to why a 12 year old was sitting in a class full of Grade 1 kids, but Ms. B explained how not all the parents find out about the institution soon enough. But we were glad to hear that with P's intelligence, he'll soon receive double promotions and spend time with kids his own age.

The nagging feeling of the end of the day was soothed with the prospects of us coming back bright and early tomorrow morning, to teach and be taught by our special 13. :')

And that, was the foreshadow to my little journey to a happy place.

Bye, 

Ruchika.
xx

*Names are abbreviated to protect identities.