I have some opportunities to be involved with teenagers in my place of work. I have had some pleasantly surprising experiences recently during my contact with them.
Two boys talked about their habit of foregoing two meals a week and transferring the saved cost of the food to a children’s home, which they visit once a month and spend an evening with the children at the home. They come back refreshed from their visit knowing how the children live contented lives in spite of having to grow up without parents who died due to AIDS or natural calamities. The children continue to challenge them to live more prudently rather than getting carried away by the fancies and fantasies of adolescence.
Three girls spent all the days of their extended week end designing and decorating a children’s resource centre and made the place visually friendly for children. They keep dropping in to be involved with the children during the weekly play group.
Three other students got involved to help a family who needed assistance to send their son to vocational training and continue to support his education.
I came across an initiative by the students to make the campus green and be free of plastic waste, which is making some impact.
Anna was able to get 23 medical students to register with the indian Council of Medical Research to do a small research project during their third year of medical study.
Yes, teenaged have their mind of their own and can go either way: in a creative way or self seeking way.
It is for this reason, they would need mentoring. To accompany them thoughtfully and staying with then in their ups and downs is worth it because such acts of kindness would make a change in their lives. I wonder whether we make enough ti me to do this!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
Two boys talked about their habit of foregoing two meals a week and transferring the saved cost of the food to a children’s home, which they visit once a month and spend an evening with the children at the home. They come back refreshed from their visit knowing how the children live contented lives in spite of having to grow up without parents who died due to AIDS or natural calamities. The children continue to challenge them to live more prudently rather than getting carried away by the fancies and fantasies of adolescence.
Three girls spent all the days of their extended week end designing and decorating a children’s resource centre and made the place visually friendly for children. They keep dropping in to be involved with the children during the weekly play group.
Three other students got involved to help a family who needed assistance to send their son to vocational training and continue to support his education.
I came across an initiative by the students to make the campus green and be free of plastic waste, which is making some impact.
Anna was able to get 23 medical students to register with the indian Council of Medical Research to do a small research project during their third year of medical study.
It is for this reason, they would need mentoring. To accompany them thoughtfully and staying with then in their ups and downs is worth it because such acts of kindness would make a change in their lives. I wonder whether we make enough ti me to do this!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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