CHANGE

I am walking through the same road from my first day at school in this town. Every day when I go to school in the morning, I used to see the morning glory of the sun behind the big roadside trees. Time ticks away in its own way. Actually time doesn't go alone. We, the human being, are carrying out civilization on the shoulder of bricks. Now the sun glories behind the high buildings. On the other side of the road, slums are growing proportionally with the number of floors in the building.

I always think about the line that we have drawn between the people. I feel something impulsive when I see children behind a glass in the building watching other children playing in the dirt on the road.

 One day I was going to school wearing a costume for a cultural function. While I was passing the slum beside the road, a girl with torn dress suddenly asked,

"Your dress is very beautiful. Don't you have class today?"

I was astonished to listen her and said,

"I have a cultural program today".

Then I have to walk on as I was already late. But the whole day the girl's face and her curiosity were peeping in my head. On the way back I thought I would talk to her. But I didn't find her on the way.

 Next day I started school early. Then I found her again on the road. I asked,

"Hi, Can you recognize me?"

She said, "Yah, every day I see you go to school with a beautiful uniform and a bag." I got curious about her and asked, "What do you do? Don't you go to school?"

She said, "No, I work as a home servant in people's homes. Every day when you go to school early in the morning, I see you and then I go out for work."

"Why do you work at this age? Do you want to go school?"

"Actually my father has died in a road accident. My mother works as a home servant. I have got two little brothers and a sister. In order to maintain our livelihood I have to work. It doesn't even matter what I want or not. But I like to see you go to school ".

I was numb for a while listening to those heavy words from such a tiny mouth.

"Okay. Can I know your name?" She smilingly answered, "My name is Mina"

Then I said,"Goodbye, Mina. I am being late for school."

The whole time in the school, I was thinking about one thing. Why is the difference between poor and rich growing day by day? Building with high technology is rising. On the other hand, the living condition of the poor is not improving. I think the only thing that can reduce the gap and ensure a fairer future is education.

 An idea flicked into my mind. What If my friends and I take the responsibility of educating Mina? There are many government facilitated schools in our country. They provide free books too. So if we just make a way to admit her into school then every month we can give her at least some educational instruments. We all have some extra educational instruments and we can share with her.Then I talked with some of my friends and they were also interested. Maybe I along with my friends  cannot educate all the children like Mina but that could be an impulsive vibration to the society. I believe a big journey starts with a small step.

So we couldn't wait to take the first step! We met in the evening near the slum of mina. I didn't know when she would come back from work. We waited on the way and she came when the sun was setting. I looked at her saying in my mind,

'I won't let the sun set that exists in Mina's heart’.

I told her that we want to get her admitted into a school. A spark showed in her eyes but she said, 'My mother won't let me go'.

"We are here to talk with your mother. Let’s go to your home."

With two hopeful eyes she took us to her home. Mina's mother was astonished at our appearance. She asked us,

"What's about, Sons?" I told her everything. Then she replied with a big sigh,

"I work in a men's house. I don't want to work my Mina like me. But what do I do? I had an aspiration too to educate my daughter. But when I can't afford food for us how can I afford education? " "Don't worry, Aunty! We will admit her in a school and we will help mina. We believe Mina will diminish all the problems one day. You just let her study” Mina's mother's eyes turned into tears and said, “Thank you, Sons! My Mina will go to school”

The light of joy that we saw in the eyes of Mina, I believe that can enlighten the whole world! Next day, we admitted Mina into a School. I told my friends to bring something for Mina. When Mina saw all of our things, she said," Where should I place all of these things?" We laughed together and said, "You keep going Mina!"

The idea of "Light up a Kid" was born into my mind by the experience of Mina.

Undoubtedly, education is the key to a fairer future. So why not we all make a contribution to educate the kid whose family and surroundings are not supportive. We can take responsibility for at least one kid. Even one of our friend circles or a solvent family can take the responsibility and guide a kid with essential resources.It would be very impactful to light up a kid with the enormous potential of education. It's not a tough task and it will add a huge value to oneself that he is one of the people who is trying to bring the light of education in the country.

I along with my friends planned to build "Light up a kid Foundation ". We will play the role as a connector between underprivileged children and the person who wants to take the responsibility. We will arrange a convenient get together with the kid and person to cheer them up and appreciate their studies. In any festival we will provide them a smile pack to share the happiness of the festival with them.

Change doesn't come in a moment. If Mina gets educated she will be able to fight for her rights.A few months later we noticed some changes in mina. Now she is very confident .She is teaching her brothers and sister about cleanliness and health hygiene.  She has also plans for educating other slum dwellers! I thought it’s like a social chain reaction. As one candle can light up many candles and those many candles can light up more. We just need to light up one candle. That’s the starting of the social reaction.

Fairer future may not be ensured in one generation. Mina is fully aware of the education now. So she will definitely educate her children. Her children will do the same! It’s a process and one day the process will give us an educated country that builds a world that all we dream for…..

           Change seems strange

            As we used to see outrage,

            Some people are starving

            Some are in luxury,

            that's not the think to worry

           the worry is, why are we numb?

            keeping in ice our thumb.

            If we don't, then we won't

            Future is waving at us

           To beautify and glorify, thus

            We all will be leaving

           Nothing but our deeds!