Laughing, drawing, coloring, jump roping, shooting hoops, playing games, and eating candy- pretty much sums up my afternoon spent with some awesome local Indian kids. These kids were smiley, happy, affectionate, and did I mention HYPER? Oh how hyper they were! Any child that may have been shy in the beginning ditched that at the first sight of mango candies being passed around. Like all kids, they had a hard time sharing and taking turns and fought over who got the yellow marker next. However, there is something that separates them from other children their age. The very something that has triggered our visit today. Most of them are orphans, and all of them are HIV positive.
They have found a home at Snehadaan Centre- an orphanage/school for children who have been diagnosed with HIV and have lost both or one of their parents, left with no one able to care for them.
When we first planned the visit to the centre, I was anticipating a run-down, small building filled of sick children with very little resources. This was definitely not the case. The facility was large and modern, surrounded by a lot of greenery, gardens, play grounds, and even animals. There were times I forgot they were even sick. Were they even sick? I couldn’t tell. They were filled with life and joy, all speaking English impressively well. They were ecstatic about the jump ropes and loved showing off their skills.
But then I’d take a step back. Look a little closer, listen a little closer, and I was reminded. Their skin had rashes, scabs, and sores. One little boy moaned in pain when he was slapped on the back by his friend. He unbuttoned his shirt to show me little red bumps scattered across his chest that apparently covered his back. But he was strong and after a few more gasps of pain grunted through tightened teeth, he assured me he was fine and continued playing.
Some of their eyes would flash a sense of sadness when they talked about their parents or siblings. Their overly need for affection and attention was evident in the way they held on tight to any hand they could grasp. Others were quiet and reserved; coloring alone and staying away from all the commotion. By their lack of a uniform, I could tell those children were new to the school-new to what will become the rest of their life.
The stigma that surrounds people with HIV or AIDS in India is sickening and heartbreaking. It’s a disease not accepted here on any level. Families and friends are shunned by not only the community, but those closest to them as well. People are ostracized, rejected, ridiculed, and verbally and physically abuse to such extremes that they aren’t even safe walking on the streets. The epidemic is only growing because people fear being socially isolated, so they don’t seek medical treatment.
Women have it even worse. They are more discriminated against than a man with HIV and even a married woman who has been infected by her husband will be accused by her in-laws. Women are not even protected through the healthcare system. It is so incredibly corrupt here that a man can have his wife tested without her knowledge and even if the woman’s results come back HIV negative, he can pay the doctor to say otherwise.
When seeking treatment comes with risks this high, it becomes clear why there were so many innocent children surrounding me that day. It breaks my heart to look at those kids and think of all the added struggles they’ll have to face throughout their entire life. They were born without a clean slate and
without a fair chance at a normal healthy life. But they have found a home…a little safe haven.. a place where they can fit in. They’ve been given a chance at an education, friends, and hope.
I feel blessed to have been a part of these kids’ lives even if it was just for a day.
*to protect their privacy, we weren’t allowed to take any pictures of the children where they could risk being identified.
