As I walked into the Mythri Orphanage, I was greeted by President Sandhya Rani of the Mythri Association, who smiled at me warmly as I entered. She told me that the Mythri Orphanage contained 23 boys and 22 girls, each without parents. Most of these kids were around 8-12 years old, each trying to make the most of their lives by doing well in school while also having fun with each other after school each day. President Sandhya Rani had also told me that they lacked many resources, such as essential groceries, foods, and books. She told me that the kids all enjoyed celebrating the New Year, but weren’t able to get funding for all of the New Year’s decorations the kids wanted in order to celebrate. How could I continue to live comfortably when I knew these orphaned kids I’d bonded with wouldn’t be able to enjoy the New Year’s celebration they so desired? The next morning I resolved to do my part in my homeland and help these kids who shared my heritage. These children shouldn’t have to lose out on celebrations and resources solely based on their backgrounds. 

I went shop to shop in Hyderabad, searching for suitable items. I stopped at the rangoli (colored powdered) store, where the vendors recommended bright-colored powder to give to these kids, ones that kids typically enjoyed decorating with. Next, we stopped at the lighting and decorations store, where we bought cable lights that the kids could put around the orphanage to decorate. Then, we stopped at a local bakery and got cakes. President Sandhya Rani had told me these kids loved cake but were only able to eat it occasionally due to the orphanage’s funding. Lastly, we got the groceries these kids needed in order to live healthy lives, along with books and pens needed for them to succeed in their school activities and benefit educationally as much as possible. After all, only with the tools to secure a proper long-term future could these kids stop and enjoy the festivities in life as they got older.

After I returned to the orphanage, I was greeted by the orphaned girls sitting on the stairs and doing their homework, unaware of the surprise New Year’s celebration we’d planned. President Sandhya Rani and Vice President Narasimha Rao helped me take in the goods, and as we set them down and uncovered them, the staff and the children were in awe. Their excitement was clear as the kids quickly finished their homework, grabbed rangoli (colored powders) and started drawing on the driveway. The staff hugged each other, and they celebrated for the year to come and the benefits these kids would get with their improved education and health in the coming year. Afterward, the kids ate dinner and were able to cut and eat the cakes, each kid with a smile on their face, and all of the staff watching in silent happiness. 

As President Sandhya Rani smiled at me as I left the orphanage, I looked down at the decorations the kids had drawn on the driveway. They had made colorful birds, each with different, colorful wings, and a drawn branch that the birds all sat on. I smiled, thinking about how I’d helped them but I couldn’t help feeling a bit solemn. My one-time assistance with resources wouldn’t be enough to last the kids much time or solve their systemic lack of resources. They deserved more: every kid deserves sufficient resources to prepare themselves for whatever future they desire and succeed in education. I hope that my community in Hyderabad will grow and build a strong support network for these kids to achieve their full potential. Problems like theirs aren’t solved by dropping off some essential supplies that’ll eventually run out but by ensuring these kids have a steady supply of their necessities. Dropping off resources is only the beginning, and I hope to accomplish more to uplift not only my home city Hyderabad but also my community in Colorado in the years to come.