It was around 10:30 this morning(23rd Feb 2013). Kids were gathered outside the back gate of Hotel d'el Annarpurna.They were waiting for someone to tell them to enter the gate guarded by a female security guard. They were patiently waiting and some were making the best of their time in wait by taking a walk down the pavement and having a last go at their sniff bag before a stomach filling meal of the day.Yes they were there to receive their free lunch of the day provided by Smile Nepal with the help of Hotel d'el Annapurna's. It may sound like -oh just one meal a day..yes just one meal a day..every day, which makes 365 meals a year for an average of 30 kids living in the streets.
Its not just a stomach filling experience but also a heart filling one. I was there to witness the feeding session. which I joking like to refer to as the feeding frenzy ( blame it on Nat Geo and Discovery channel). The orderly manner in which it was carried out was impressive. The food was good. Not in anyway food cooked to give away that too for the street kids.
Street kids from around Thamel were streaming into the premises for about half an hour. They washed their hands and formed an orderly queue to wait for their turn. They looked hungry but not impatient. Some did look dazed and on some kind of psychotic trip ( areldite, the glue is to be blamed).
What impressed me the most was that when food supply ran low (before the fresh one arrived) the kids were sharing what they had. The spirit of sharing and caring was alive and kicking within those kids who are constantly being beaten down by the harsh reality that they face everyday on the streets that seldom forgive them.
That took me back to a line I read a few years ago... People who have nothing and still give..
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