http://desicritics.org/ Superior South Asian bloggers on Culture, Media, Politics, Sport, Business, and Technology. en Copyright 2006 by the authors Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:07:49 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss BC custom software http://desicritics.org/2006/12/05/093929.php#comment-356290 Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte. 356290@desicritics.org Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:07:49 EST http://desicritics.org/2006/12/05/093929.php#comment-356289 Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte. 356289@desicritics.org Tue, 3 Mar 2009 00:07:09 EST http://desicritics.org/2006/12/05/093929.php#comment-36892 Tanay Of course you're right - and my question was a rhetorical one. No-one is suggesting that a one-off visit can achieve anything for these kids, or even a well-meaning NGO. The social structures that keep the rich rich and the poor poor are too entrenched to be much affected by this. But I guess this doesn't mean we should do nothing. I've written both here on DC and in the national BD press on child labour - ultimately these struggles have to come from within the nation itself, but still as an outsider teacher and writer I can make a tiny contribution by bringing these things to the fore. Temporal I agree - the girl's photo is a constant source of inspiration to me. She was mute, but very expressive. And you're right - cynicism and despair get us nowhere. Hope tempered with realism is my preferred option. 36892@desicritics.org Wed, 6 Dec 2006 23:16:25 EST http://desicritics.org/2006/12/05/093929.php#comment-36785 <I>The children's faces are beautiful, but they are also knowing, old before their time.</I> true! but in the beautiful photo you took, their faces also reflect hope and resiliency digression: at what age hope gives in to unfathomable hatred and intolerance? (this is not confined to b'desh) 36785@desicritics.org Wed, 6 Dec 2006 11:08:57 EST http://desicritics.org/2006/12/05/093929.php#comment-36427 But what other, harder, lessons lie ahead of these old-young kids? My answer : Plenty... The children would be in the age group of 10 to 12..Even though they have been put in school by a young teacher...Do you feel they would continue..After sometime they would sell newspapers, boxes of tissues and other wares at traffic intersections. Some would work on daily wages. Others would collect waste and then sell it for recycling. Why do programs which gets initiated in high spirit and with an intention to bring goodwill and prosperity,not produce the right results.. The reason I feel are many losing focus/sight in the journey...My idea is its the journey to a destination that is difficult and not the end destination...But a single Andrew or his Swedish friends or the humble teacher cannot make a change all by themselves..Its not easy though,same is very much prevalent in India too..."Child Labor" was made illegal by Indian law,few weeks back but even today,you can find these kids working in restaurants and in petrol stations fixing punctured tyres...Rules are easy to make but difficult to implement .... 1 in 10 would go and complain when s/he finds a live case of child abuse or exploitation..Rest 9 on 10 watch it daily and still remain silent as it doesn't impact their lives and lifestyle..Change comes through people involvement,voice and participation for a cause.. 36427@desicritics.org Tue, 5 Dec 2006 14:00:54 EST