Tuesday was the annual orphanage picnic, and all the volunteers went along to help out. The orphanage is one of the volunteer programs. It houses about 30 kids, ages 0-6. Only the kids that were old enough and able to walk came on the picnic, about 20 in total. The picnic was held in a housing development/resort that had a big park with rusty playground equipment. The kids were shy at first, but then they warmed up to us and soon were sprinting around.
They were adorable, albeit very dirty. Their hair was greasy and cut short, and they dressed in a mix-and-match selection of western clothes. It was impossible to tell boys from girls. On some you could see the lice in their hair (I was careful to keep my head covered and away from theirs, and I used lice shampoo in my shower tonight!) but they all had lively spirits. I felt bad for them, living without parents in less than good conditions, but in many ways they are better off than many children in India. They are guaranteed food, clothes, shelter and medical care. They lack attention and affection, but that is what the volunteers are for.
They were adorable, albeit very dirty. Their hair was greasy and cut short, and they dressed in a mix-and-match selection of western clothes. It was impossible to tell boys from girls. On some you could see the lice in their hair (I was careful to keep my head covered and away from theirs, and I used lice shampoo in my shower tonight!) but they all had lively spirits. I felt bad for them, living without parents in less than good conditions, but in many ways they are better off than many children in India. They are guaranteed food, clothes, shelter and medical care. They lack attention and affection, but that is what the volunteers are for.
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