BAPS and BAPS Care through their
dedicated young volunteers in South Africa recently hosted the
third annual Children’s Fun Day (CFD) 2006. The event
was was held in Lenasia, a suburb of Johannesburg. BAPS volunteers
transformed a field adjacent to the BAPS Lenasia Mandir into
a children’s wonderland with various games, activities
and food. Over 1000 children from 18 orphanges and destitute
homes came for this day of fun on 25 November 2006. Most of
these children live lives ravaged by AIDS, crushing poverty,
or abuse, and the day’s event offered these children a
chance to enjoy themselves and just be kids.
As the children arrived for the day in their special Children’s
Fun Day T-shirts, they had group pictures taken on the stairs
of the Mandir. Then they entered the mandir for a brief presentation
on India and Indian culture. Each was then offered the opportunity
to participate in a Hindu ritual, the arti. For most children,
it was their first visit to a mandir, and so a great learning
experience.
After a hot breakfast, the children were then free to roam the
grounds and participate in the various games and attractions
that had been organized including: jumping castles, a 35 metre
giant slide, an animal farm with horses, pony rides, carousels,
ferris wheels, a dunking machine, a steam train, soccer, face-painting,
storybook reading, colouring, beadwork, clowns, magicians and
performing poodles.
During the day the children were also served a hot lunch, snacks
and ice cream. The day of fun concluded with BAPS volunteers,
dressed as Santa Claus, giving each child a bag of gifts. For
many, it would be the only gifts they received for Christmas.
As the kids boarded their buses, the smiles on their face and
their innocent laughter made it clear that they had enjoyed
their day of fun and food.
The Children’s Fun Day was created three years ago by
a group of BAPS youth volutneers who wanted to offer hope and
fun for disadvantaged children. With the support of BAPS and
BAPS Care, BAPS South Africa was able to plan and host this
event successfully for the third year in a row with the assistance
of the Art of Living Foundation and the Transvaal United Patidar
Soceity. This year’s event saw the highest number of children,
over 1000, being able to enjoy the various programs.
List of Orphanages/Homes (Click
to see letters of appreciation from the organization)