Sabera Foundation

Our group had a king's welcome when we arrived at the Sabera Foundation on this hot and sticky day. Each one of us received a bindi and a flower, and then walked down a red carpet lined with children who threw flower petals up into the air. It was beautiful and we appreciated the warmness of the children and the staff. We toured around and then spent some time with the handicapped children, many who had cerebral palsy and could not speak. However, when we took out the beanie babies we brought from home, their faces lit up and you could tell they were happy for the attention. Then we had a dance party with the kids that could walk and stand on their own. We were sweating bullets but it was so much fun. We even had the masis (helpers) dancing too!
Next, we drove over to the other part of the school where they had the older boysand girls who were sent to Sabera by their parents. They are on summer break for 15 days right now, and the girls are allowed to go home during this time period. However, if the parents don't pick them up then they can't go home. There were quite a few girls who were left at the school for their vacation which is sad, but they were sent to the school to get them away from a bad area. Though they didn't get to go home, it may be a blessing in disguise. Plus, the girls that stayed get to do lots of fun activities. Tomorrow, they will be going to the ocean for a few days. Every week they get to go to the mall and see a movie. They have also visited Nico Park, the amusement park in Kolkata.
This Foundation is a very impressive establishment which employs an on-staff nurse, a doctor optometrist, physical therapist, and counselor. We toured some of these facilities which were very clean, and well equipped. Sabera Foundation is sponsored by Pfeizer, and other well known organizations, as well as celebrities.
The girls had also been working on another activity this summer. Several of the teen girls performed several Indian-style dances. They were reallly impressive especially since we later found out that they found out we were coming only the night before! They were very humble and modest when we complimented them, partially because this style of dance is something that is common place for them, but very unique to everyone else all over the world. I felt really lucky to have this experience. All the girls did so well and were so beautiful!
Later we were served a feast of Indian food, which included rice, a type of nan, paneer, and dal. It was all delicious, and the chicken looked good, but I wasn't brave enough to try it but Nicole did and said it was good. Our host, Lucky, and all the masis made sure we were well fed. We left soon after, but not before giving our emails to some of the girls we were talking with. They were all so smart and excellent conversationalists! They are in an establishment that will provide them with bright futures, and I am so thankful for that.