It was a bright, warm Saturday in June when the phone rang in my office.
“They’ve started arriving,” an auntie said.
I grabbed my notebook and walked with Ms. Sagaya, our admissions counselor, toward the Foundation House. Under the shade of the trees, families sat on wooden benches, each with a small child by their side.
This is what the first day at Shanti Bhavan looks like. Most of the children arrive with almost nothing but the clothes they’re wearing. Their parents don’t bring bags or toys, just the hope that this place will give their child a better future.
Meeting Paul for the First Time
Paul was one of the first children I met that morning. He’s four, small for his age, and shy at first, but becomes very chatty once he warms up. His father is visually impaired, and his mother struggles with serious mental health challenges. Paul has been raised by his paternal relatives, who love him but have very little means to support him.
For his family, bringing him to Shanti Bhavan meant trusting that their little boy’s life could break free from the limits of their own.
Intake: Where Each Family Starts
Paul’s first stop on arrival day is preschool intake at the Foundation House. A few aunties, the preschool teacher, and Sister Sheila, our nurse, gather around a table to welcome each family. The intake is simple: we collect the child’s information, talk to the parents about their hopes and worries, and then do a quick health check: height, weight, and a basic wellness exam.
And then comes my favorite part of the day: walking the children to see their new home.
The Walk to the Bright Yellow Dorm
Paul’s small hand gripped Ambika’s, one of our recent graduates, as we walked across campus. We passed the dining hall, alive with the sound of clanging pots and the smell of lunch cooking.
We followed the winding path, past grazing cows and the bursts of colorful flowers that line the way to the preschool dorm. At the end of the path stood the bright yellow building, its doors wide open. Inside the boys’ room, Arasu and Anwesh, both recent Shanti Bhavan graduates, were waiting to welcome the new preschoolers.
A Bed, a Bear, and a New Beginning
“Are you ready to see where you’ll sleep?” Ambika asked, kneeling to Paul’s height.
Paul hesitated in the doorway. Rows of neatly tucked beds lined the room, each one topped with a stuffed animal. He took a step forward, then another, let go of Jayanthi’s hand, and ran to grab a small brown bear. He hugged it to his chest like it was already his.
Paul’s father couldn’t see the room, so his brother gently guided his hand along the cool metal bed frame and the soft mattress.
A few minutes later, in the play corner, Paul discovered a pile of toy cars and picture books. He ran back to his father, tugging his hand, babbling with excitement about everything he had just seen.
His father let out a long, quiet sigh. Relief. Trust. Love.
Trusting Us With a Future They Can’t See Yet
Every year, we welcome 28 new preschoolers at Shanti Bhavan 1 and 30 at Shanti Bhavan 2. Their first day is always emotional. I admire the strength of the parents that day and am humbled by the trust they place in us to care for their children. They know this is the only way their family can break free from the cycle of poverty.
It takes patience. Years of it. From preschool to high school graduation, then college, and finally, a first job. But it starts here, in a bright yellow dorm.
