Singapore students bring cheer to orphans

Hindustan Times, Lucknow reports.. A bunch of 25 youngsters from Singapore have come to India to make a difference to the lives of destitute children staying in the three Children Of Mother Earth (COME) homes in India.  They are in India for two weeks and were in Lucknow for a couple of days to interact with the children at the COME home on Kanpur Road. The group had an “awesome” time with the children in Lucknow.  Yuyan, one of the group members visiting the city said, “Even though I don’t know Hindi and could not communicate with them properly, I loved spending time with them.  It has bought me closer to them. They brought out positive energy from within us, which is very nice.” The group made a playgound for the children and taught them how to tidy up their place.  On one day the group taught the kids a traditional Malay dance, which they say the children loved.  ”The feeling they evoke in us is fantastic and the experience of being with them is great.  The love that children gave us makes me feel I should spend more time with them,” said Pooja, another group member.  COME is run by Ravi Rai at three places, namely Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Delhi.  He belongs to India and was initially working as a civil engineer.  His brother Shashi is also based in Singapore and both of them work for the destitute in Singapore as well. The children are a part of their organisation which spends time with destitutes and works for their good in Singapore.  Most of the group members are students pursuing various courses in Singapore.  They loved their trip to India. Soon they would leave for Gorakhpur and go to Delhi.  In all the days for which they were in Lucknow, they went to various historical places and had Lakhnawi food. “We have shopped chikan clothes and shawls.  I bought a chikan kurta for myself and will also buy a shawl for my mother.  The stuff in Lucknow is extraordinary and we really like it,” said a male group member.