Social Work Projects Youth

"English is a key that unlocks a world of information and empowers poor youth with the skills to help themselves and become ethical and compassionate people. We are all interconnected and it is not possible to have a happy and safe world when some people have too much and others live in desperate poverty and oppression. Women and children are the ones who suffer the most from the degradation of poverty, which robs them of their chance to live up to the potential of a precious human life." - Ayya Yeshe

I recently had two little nuns stay with me for almost 6 weeks. They enjoyed themselves immensely, but in the end they missed their grandmother alot and I didn't have the energy to manage a large charity, teach, travel, meditate and raise them.

We are still sponsoring them however and they come twice a week for Dharma and English class. The youngest nun, Sujata, is an orphan who had never had a birthday party. I gave her a Barbie (which she asked for). She told me her Barbie's name is Twinkle and she goes to engineering college (even though Barbie appears to be dressed like a street walker!). I'm not allowed to see Barbie change. Now Barbie sits next to Buddha on our shrine (now and then!).

A child who comes to us for tuition was practically illiterate because his school was so bad. Now he's getting food, clothing, a good school and tuition classes. When asked why he's always late I said 'Youre a smart boy aren't you?" He said 'No I'm not.' What can one say to that?

I was sitting quietly in my Vihara on my birthday when suddenly I heard my gate being opened... Suddenly 45 children had literally gate crashed my Vihara and were proceeding to stuff exceedingly sweet and spicey food into my mouth and regale me with plaster of paris Buddhas, hot pink flower vases and bright blue plastic flowers. I ended up spending my birthday sweating and playing pin the tail on the donkey with kids from our slum schools who had invited themselves for my birthday. Sometimes the poorest places are where the most love is (not to mention plaster of Paris Buddhas!).

Two little girls came to my vihara today and asked if they could ordain as nuns. I asked why, they said that they are tired of being beaten by their alcoholic father and that the lock on their bedroom door is not strong enough to keep them and their mother safe from him. 'Please take us' they said. 'I will try to find a way' I said.

Girls dressed up in their best for a traditional Indian dance on a cultural festival human rights programme that Bodhicitta Foundation organised.