Where do Hyderabadis spend their summer holidays in the city? Parks, resorts, catch up on a few DJ nights maybe. But there is one other place -- an NGO working for the well being of HIV infected children at Bolarum village near Miyapur.
Inviting participants from across the city, the Desire Society organised a four day summer camp for their residents which ended on Tuesday.
Many professionals, businessmen and parents along with their own children came forward to bring joy to the 63 children staying at the society. From sponsoring events, food and gifts for the camp, participants spent some quality time with the affected children.
Infected by a disease that usually leads to ostracisation, the camp also served as an ice breaker for many as they played with the children, with some even spending the night at the society.
The camp which has been organised since 2008, has been done so as to give children an experience beyond their usual four walls and social construct. With activities like yoga, painting, drawing, music, dance and movie shows being screened, it was more than just a fun exercise but also one that helped the kids explore their artistic sensibilities. Thrilled at all the events and new friends, the children had a remarkable four days.
Boundaries of age vanished as people from different age groups actively engaged with the children in games such as camel ride, nail painting, balloon shooting, hit the can and so on.
“I have been participating in the summer camps of Desire for the last three years. I am also a frequent visitor to the society. It gives me the feeling of being with my family,” says Ashok, a professional working with Rotrael. Agreeing, Chetan, a business man from Panjagutta, shares, “The commitment to the children behind this initiative gives me lot of pleasure and I have always enjoyed taking part in it.”
And it wasn’t just Hyderabadis who turned up to spread the joy. Melisa, an American citizen who came to the the University of Hyderabad for three months under the study India programme, was fascinated by Desire’s activities. Wanting to lend a helping hand, she organised a fund raising programme at her college, California University, to provide for the NGO.
The Desire Society was established in the city in 2005 with a mission to improve lives of children struggling with HIV/AIDS. It has also managed to spread to Bengaluru, Mumbai and Vizag, currently providing shelter, food, medicines and education to about 200 affected children. The society was started by one G Hari Babu.
“My childhood friend died because of HIV in 1998. It really shocked me. Later, inspired by Dr Sulati Solemn, the first doctor who diagnosed HIV in India, I was persuaded to do something for the HIV infected, “ shares Hari Babu, who believes that people find more joy in giving back to society.