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Orphans and Abandoned Children Aspire to Greatness

July 17, 2007

It is rare to come across a child who is confident, bold and courageous, let alone one that is and has undergone abandonment. Milan, a five year old boy from Nepal, is one of these rare cases. At SOS Children’s Village Jorpati, Ranjeeta an SOS employee speaks of Milan’s fiery charisma.

Milan arrived at SOS Children’s Village Jorpati curious about his new surrounding and ready to explore, something that broke most of the “new boy” stereotypes of being shy and quiet. Ranjeet recounts, “He came straight into the office and slammed the door behind him, looking around for something new. Children don’t usually come into the office. They only come if they have a special request. But a new boy wouldn’t know that. In fact, he was just investigating his new neighborhood like a lion that has just been moved to a new location inspects and patrols over the new territory it has been introduced to.

As it is usually said, the “mind of a child is the most amazing thing in the world”. In Milian’s case Ranjeeta believed that was true. “It was amazing to see a child do as he pleased without any hesitation and with confidence even when others were watching over him.” Ranjeeta stated. One encounter she recalls is of Milan coming into the office and asking the education expert to get up from the chair so that he could sit and swing around.
“I don’t know how a child from a remote village who has never been to an office before learned about the chair and how it rotates. I was amazed and got up to let him swing around on the chair,” the education expert exclaimed. Milan enjoyed spinning round and round for some minutes. His confidence and courage were admirable. It was when his SOS mother, Bimala, came into the office searching for her son that Ranjeeta recalls the five year old’s inspirational words.

Bimala was quite surprised to see him sitting on the office chair, and proceeded to asked him to get up and come with her. As they were walking out, she said to her dear child, “one day you will also be able to sit on a chair like that after you have gained an education. Milan then replied, “I will be the one sitting there one day.”

Ranjeeta then concludes, “We hope Milan will retain this sense of determination and courage throughout his life and that these qualities will help the boy to achieve his goals and give the world his all. One day, with courage like this, he will be able to sit on the most respectable chair the world has to offer.” It is as children’s institutions like SOS Children’s Villages were children who have undergone a tragic loss that left them orphans, or abandoned at young ages are given the love, and care that nurtures and educates them about determination and what it can help them achieve in their futures.

Topics: Asia, Child Abandonment, Case Study |