Diwali is a time for lights, sweets, and the warmth of family. But for children in orphanages, it can be one of the loneliest times of the year — when everyone else seems to be going home, and there is no home to go to.
This year, Yashit Foundation made sure that didn't happen for 80 children across three orphanages in Lucknow.
The Day
Fifty volunteers split into three teams and visited Bal Ashram, Mamta Sadan, and Shishu Griha over the course of Diwali day. Each team arrived with boxes of sweets and snacks, new clothes for every child, art supplies, and a collection of board games. They stayed for three to four hours at each home.
"One little boy — maybe 6 years old — spent the entire time showing our volunteer how to play carrom. He had clearly been practising. He beat us every single game." — Volunteer, Lucknow
What We Gave
- 80 new sets of clothes (one per child)
- Boxes of sweets, namkeen, and fresh fruit
- Art kits, colouring books, and craft supplies
- Board games: carrom, chess, ludo, and snake & ladders
- Diya decoration activity led by volunteers
The Moment That Stayed With Us
At Mamta Sadan, a 14-year-old girl named Kavya helped organise the younger children throughout the visit. At the end, she quietly told one of our volunteers: "Thank you for coming. Most people only come on Children's Day." We're going back for Christmas.
If you'd like to sponsor a future visit to an orphanage or old age home, donate here. Or join us as a volunteer.