(Syntillations 06 has adopted Sneha Nilaya, an orphanage for young girls. A group of volunteers were to spend an afternoon there on August 5, 2006. Here are moments from that visit to Sneha Nilaya. After this visit, Syntillations in association with iVolunteer will chart a plan of action for the intervention at Sneha Nilaya).

I was unsure about what to expect at Sneha Nilaya that afternoon. I was there because we wanted to make a difference. But, would we really make a difference? Would the children relate to us? And would we be able to reach out of ourselves to touch the children’s lives in a special way?

As we entered the little room where the girls spend their afternoon, led by Anna from iVolunteer, it was like being swept off our feet by a rush of energy. There were little girls everywhere – running, jumping, laughing or just sitting down.

For a minute, I felt a little loss. What now? Then, Vinay walked up and carried one of the little ones. From there on, the ice was broken. I watched as volunteers played with the children – it was everything from Tug of War to Ring a Ring O’ Roses. Others were carrying the children in their arms. Some were just talking to them.

The children did not always wait for us to go up to them. They often came to us, with a mixture of friendship and curiosity. They wanted to know our names, show us book or sometimes just be held. I felt as if language did not matter.

They seemed to feel that way too, as they pulled out books and tried to show us what they knew. They pointed to the coloured pictures in their book and enlightened us, “knife…cycle…machine”. Each one striving to outdo the other.

Somewhere in the corner of the room, I noticed that Rajashree, who wanted to teach them classical dance, had already started on her first lesson. Her pupils were completely involved in the effort.

Then, the cameras came out, and each of them wanted to be photograph. Sometimes in groups, sometimes with one close friend, sometimes by themselves. Then, not completely satisfied, the children wanted to try their hands at photography too. Each time they pleaded, “Aunty, one last time please.” Anna who was watching the episode unfold, whispered to me, “You must be firm with them”. That was another lesson in voluntarism :-)

Before we knew it, the afternoon at Sneha Nilaya was over. As I got my helmet out, many of the girls wanted to try it on, clasping and unclasping it repeatedly. That’s just what my little nephew does with my helmet, every time he gets his hand on it. It occurred to me that this was no different.

I don’t know whether we were able to make a big transformation in that afternoon. But, that no longer worries me. I know now that we just need to be ourselves. And I believe that with time and perseverance, we can make a difference.