a 20-17 I was sitting in the audience excited and nervous
there were 23 children who were
there were 23 children who were performing for the first time in their
performing for the first time in their
performing for the first time in their life and they had prepared this entire
life and they had prepared this entire
life and they had prepared this entire performance within seven days the the
performance within seven days the the
performance within seven days the the costumes were white there was masks and
costumes were white there was masks and
costumes were white there was masks and they’d rock the rock the dance floor
they’d rock the rock the dance floor
they’d rock the rock the dance floor under UV lights the moves are not really
under UV lights the moves are not really
under UV lights the moves are not really in sync but what was definitely in sync
in sync but what was definitely in sync
in sync but what was definitely in sync was their energy and the spirit while
was their energy and the spirit while
was their energy and the spirit while nothing was unusual about this
nothing was unusual about this
nothing was unusual about this performance except there was one thing
performance except there was one thing
performance except there was one thing amar
amar
amar the lead dance performer of this group
the lead dance performer of this group
the lead dance performer of this group three years ago he was arrested for
three years ago he was arrested for
three years ago he was arrested for murder he came to Bombay to make an
murder he came to Bombay to make an
murder he came to Bombay to make an honest living and support his family one
honest living and support his family one
honest living and support his family one night he and his friend got drunk and
night he and his friend got drunk and
night he and his friend got drunk and got into a fight into an argument before
got into a fight into an argument before
got into a fight into an argument before Amer knew he had killed his person what
Amer knew he had killed his person what
Amer knew he had killed his person what happened next is very obvious he was
happened next is very obvious he was
happened next is very obvious he was arrested he was sent to the observation
arrested he was sent to the observation
arrested he was sent to the observation home he spent six months there after
home he spent six months there after
home he spent six months there after which he was sent and committed to a
which he was sent and committed to a
which he was sent and committed to a special home for children children who
special home for children children who
special home for children children who commit crimes he this is what happened
commit crimes he this is what happened
commit crimes he this is what happened in terms of the system but what also
in terms of the system but what also
in terms of the system but what also happened is that his father disowned him
happened is that his father disowned him
happened is that his father disowned him his own village his own community
his own village his own community
his own village his own community labeled him as criminal and ostracized
labeled him as criminal and ostracized
labeled him as criminal and ostracized him at the age of 18 when amar was
him at the age of 18 when amar was
him at the age of 18 when amar was released nothing changed when he had
released nothing changed when he had
released nothing changed when he had paid his dues as per the system as for
paid his dues as per the system as for
paid his dues as per the system as for the law nothing changed for him his
the law nothing changed for him his
the law nothing changed for him his father still did not take him back the
father still did not take him back the
father still did not take him back the first time I visited the children’s home
first time I visited the children’s home
first time I visited the children’s home there were 150 to 200 kids locked up in
there were 150 to 200 kids locked up in
there were 150 to 200 kids locked up in one long room and this is a children’s
one long room and this is a children’s
one long room and this is a children’s home that houses abandoned kids missing
home that houses abandoned kids missing
home that houses abandoned kids missing kids vulnerable runaway rescued rescued
kids vulnerable runaway rescued rescued
kids vulnerable runaway rescued rescued from child labor and trafficking these
from child labor and trafficking these
from child labor and trafficking these were children all
were children all
were children all locked up in that one long room without
locked up in that one long room without
locked up in that one long room without any adult care what I saw was that a
any adult care what I saw was that a
any adult care what I saw was that a really motivated superintendent and
really motivated superintendent and
really motivated superintendent and extremely hard-working probation
extremely hard-working probation
extremely hard-working probation officers were only struggling to provide
officers were only struggling to provide
officers were only struggling to provide them the basics the food the clothing
them the basics the food the clothing
them the basics the food the clothing the shelter they were not even thinking
the shelter they were not even thinking
the shelter they were not even thinking about the emotional support they were
about the emotional support they were
about the emotional support they were not even able to think about what is the
not even able to think about what is the
not even able to think about what is the condition I can create so that this
condition I can create so that this
condition I can create so that this child doesn’t return back to crime how
child doesn’t return back to crime how
child doesn’t return back to crime how can I restore him and heal him amar is
can I restore him and heal him amar is
can I restore him and heal him amar is not the only one in my five years of
not the only one in my five years of
not the only one in my five years of working with these children are in many
working with these children are in many
working with these children are in many such cases children are victims of their
such cases children are victims of their
such cases children are victims of their circumstances for amar his father was
circumstances for amar his father was
circumstances for amar his father was abusive and alcoholic and poverty was a
abusive and alcoholic and poverty was a
abusive and alcoholic and poverty was a big big reason for Ravi his parents died
big big reason for Ravi his parents died
big big reason for Ravi his parents died at the age of six his brother got him to
at the age of six his brother got him to
at the age of six his brother got him to Bombay he lived with his aunt and every
Bombay he lived with his aunt and every
Bombay he lived with his aunt and every time the child made a mistake when he
time the child made a mistake when he
time the child made a mistake when he was young he was made to stick sleep
was young he was made to stick sleep
was young he was made to stick sleep outside on the road he was not allowed
outside on the road he was not allowed
outside on the road he was not allowed inside he was not allowed in his own
inside he was not allowed in his own
inside he was not allowed in his own home of course a child like that is
home of course a child like that is
home of course a child like that is angry he’s hurt he’s isolated he’s
angry he’s hurt he’s isolated he’s
angry he’s hurt he’s isolated he’s lonely there is a mentor of mine called
lonely there is a mentor of mine called
lonely there is a mentor of mine called John Malloy he once said hurt people
John Malloy he once said hurt people
John Malloy he once said hurt people hurt people and healed people heal
hurt people and healed people heal
hurt people and healed people heal people if you’ve heard of this Cherokee
people if you’ve heard of this Cherokee
people if you’ve heard of this Cherokee story this is an old Native American
story this is an old Native American
story this is an old Native American story of how there are two wolves inside
story of how there are two wolves inside
story of how there are two wolves inside us the old grandfather tells his son
us the old grandfather tells his son
us the old grandfather tells his son grandson that there are two wolves
grandson that there are two wolves
grandson that there are two wolves inside us one that’s a good wolf he’s
inside us one that’s a good wolf he’s
inside us one that’s a good wolf he’s loved his compassion his humility his
loved his compassion his humility his
loved his compassion his humility his forgiveness he’s all the good things
forgiveness he’s all the good things
forgiveness he’s all the good things that we are and the other one is the bad
that we are and the other one is the bad
that we are and the other one is the bad wolf his anger his ego he’s greed his
wolf his anger his ego he’s greed his
wolf his anger his ego he’s greed his frustration he’s all of those things and
frustration he’s all of those things and
frustration he’s all of those things and we and the two voles are constantly at
we and the two voles are constantly at
we and the two voles are constantly at war within each one of us the little kid
war within each one of us the little kid
war within each one of us the little kid asked the grandfather which wolf will
asked the grandfather which wolf will
asked the grandfather which wolf will win
win
win and the old man simply replied the one
and the old man simply replied the one
and the old man simply replied the one who you feed basically what I learned
who you feed basically what I learned
who you feed basically what I learned from the story is that there are good
from the story is that there are good
from the story is that there are good people there is there’s good and bad in
people there is there’s good and bad in
people there is there’s good and bad in each one of us and this and what John
each one of us and this and what John
each one of us and this and what John Malloy taught me is to focus on the good
Malloy taught me is to focus on the good
Malloy taught me is to focus on the good and to amplify that for this children
and to amplify that for this children
and to amplify that for this children restaurant of justice begins by choosing
restaurant of justice begins by choosing
restaurant of justice begins by choosing to be responsible for the impact our
to be responsible for the impact our
to be responsible for the impact our actions have on others so what we do is
actions have on others so what we do is
actions have on others so what we do is create powerful practices that empower
create powerful practices that empower
create powerful practices that empower children to take responsibilities of not
children to take responsibilities of not
children to take responsibilities of not only their crimes but also their life
these this is green fence to volunteers
these this is green fence to volunteers who wanted to come and create a urban
who wanted to come and create a urban
who wanted to come and create a urban garden they wanted to grow vegetables
garden they wanted to grow vegetables
garden they wanted to grow vegetables what happened actually in one year is
what happened actually in one year is
what happened actually in one year is that an infertile ground of this closed
that an infertile ground of this closed
that an infertile ground of this closed home in Matunga definitely became a lush
home in Matunga definitely became a lush
home in Matunga definitely became a lush green vegetable garden but what also
green vegetable garden but what also
green vegetable garden but what also they did was they created a safe space a
they did was they created a safe space a
they did was they created a safe space a space where children could express
space where children could express
space where children could express themselves they were not judged they
themselves they were not judged they
themselves they were not judged they were being themselves and they could
were being themselves and they could
were being themselves and they could actually access that good within them so
actually access that good within them so
actually access that good within them so what I’m trying to say is that green
what I’m trying to say is that green
what I’m trying to say is that green friends is not just a vocational
friends is not just a vocational
friends is not just a vocational training program or skills program a
training program or skills program a
training program or skills program a project it is actually a family it is
project it is actually a family it is
project it is actually a family it is the family where children are
the family where children are
the family where children are experiencing real relationships and
experiencing real relationships and
experiencing real relationships and that’s what children need genuine
that’s what children need genuine
that’s what children need genuine relationships and connections with
relationships and connections with
relationships and connections with adults who will stand by them when they
adults who will stand by them when they
adults who will stand by them when they are growing up and facing the challenges
are growing up and facing the challenges
are growing up and facing the challenges of growing up what I feel is that
of growing up what I feel is that
of growing up what I feel is that children need positive role models they
children need positive role models they
children need positive role models they need adults who they can look up to and
need adults who they can look up to and
need adults who they can look up to and say I want to be this person
say I want to be this person
say I want to be this person that’s what disappointed his army
that’s what disappointed his army
that’s what disappointed his army honored he’s a hair stylist by
honored he’s a hair stylist by
honored he’s a hair stylist by profession and what he does is every
profession and what he does is every
profession and what he does is every Tuesday which is actually his off day he
Tuesday which is actually his off day he
Tuesday which is actually his off day he goes to the home and gives haircut to
goes to the home and gives haircut to
goes to the home and gives haircut to all the boys who want haircuts what he
all the boys who want haircuts what he
all the boys who want haircuts what he actually does is he talks to talks to
actually does is he talks to talks to
actually does is he talks to talks to the kid he listens to
the kid he listens to
the kid he listens to stories and he tells them what does it
stories and he tells them what does it
stories and he tells them what does it mean to be a hair stylist what does it
mean to be a hair stylist what does it
mean to be a hair stylist what does it mean to be a hair stylist and get those
mean to be a hair stylist and get those
mean to be a hair stylist and get those skills when they step out of the home
skills when they step out of the home
skills when they step out of the home he’s also trained a few boys to cut hair
he’s also trained a few boys to cut hair
he’s also trained a few boys to cut hair and actually some of the boys want to be
and actually some of the boys want to be
and actually some of the boys want to be hairstylist when they get out and
hairstylist when they get out and
hairstylist when they get out and actually what is really happening is we
actually what is really happening is we
actually what is really happening is we are humanizing this place by bringing
are humanizing this place by bringing
are humanizing this place by bringing the outside world inside we are really
the outside world inside we are really
the outside world inside we are really humanizing this place this place and
humanizing this place this place and
humanizing this place this place and telling them that there is a different
telling them that there is a different
telling them that there is a different word outside let me tell you what
word outside let me tell you what
word outside let me tell you what happened with amar and Ravi the two
happened with amar and Ravi the two
happened with amar and Ravi the two stories I shared before am i right now
stories I shared before am i right now
stories I shared before am i right now after he was released works at a bakery
after he was released works at a bakery
after he was released works at a bakery my friends bakery he owns honest living
my friends bakery he owns honest living
my friends bakery he owns honest living of 7,000 rupees and his employer my
of 7,000 rupees and his employer my
of 7,000 rupees and his employer my friend actually called me and said he’s
friend actually called me and said he’s
friend actually called me and said he’s great he communicates well he’s honest
great he communicates well he’s honest
great he communicates well he’s honest and he’s hardworking he needs a little
and he’s hardworking he needs a little
and he’s hardworking he needs a little bit of hand-holding but you guys have
bit of hand-holding but you guys have
bit of hand-holding but you guys have trained him well but you know what she
trained him well but you know what she
trained him well but you know what she did not know that we had nothing to do
did not know that we had nothing to do
did not know that we had nothing to do in this we really did not train him it
in this we really did not train him it
in this we really did not train him it was him who had these values we only
was him who had these values we only
was him who had these values we only created a space that he could see them
created a space that he could see them
created a space that he could see them we created a space where he could see
we created a space where he could see
we created a space where he could see his own good booth I’m not suggesting
his own good booth I’m not suggesting
his own good booth I’m not suggesting that we need to let these boys go I’m
that we need to let these boys go I’m
that we need to let these boys go I’m not suggesting that we don’t need to
not suggesting that we don’t need to
not suggesting that we don’t need to hold them accountable I’m not saying
hold them accountable I’m not saying
hold them accountable I’m not saying that we you know should not do anything
that we you know should not do anything
that we you know should not do anything about them and that we should not be
about them and that we should not be
about them and that we should not be angry when we see a crime story or we
angry when we see a crime story or we
angry when we see a crime story or we should not we should all forgive them
should not we should all forgive them
should not we should all forgive them I’m not saying any of that all I’m
I’m not saying any of that all I’m
I’m not saying any of that all I’m saying is that we need to reach out to
saying is that we need to reach out to
saying is that we need to reach out to the good wolf in each of these kids
the good wolf in each of these kids
the good wolf in each of these kids before they are released back into
before they are released back into
before they are released back into society we need to really work with
society we need to really work with
society we need to really work with these children heal them because they’re
these children heal them because they’re
these children heal them because they’re hurt they’re hurt individuals and we
hurt they’re hurt individuals and we
hurt they’re hurt individuals and we really need to heal them and I think we
really need to heal them and I think we
really need to heal them and I think we need to heal them because when they get
need to heal them because when they get
need to heal them because when they get out in the society we don’t want them to
out in the society we don’t want them to
out in the society we don’t want them to go back into a life of crime what we
go back into a life of crime what we
go back into a life of crime what we actually want them is to become thriving
actually want them is to become thriving
actually want them is to become thriving contributing citizens of this country so
contributing citizens of this country so
contributing citizens of this country so next time when you come across a child
next time when you come across a child
next time when you come across a child on the streets a beggar somebody
on the streets a beggar somebody
on the streets a beggar somebody sniffing solution
sniffing solution
sniffing solution a crime story that is sensational I
a crime story that is sensational I
a crime story that is sensational I request you and I invite you to actually
request you and I invite you to actually
request you and I invite you to actually go deeper and see that good wolf that
go deeper and see that good wolf that
go deeper and see that good wolf that possibility that potential in that child
possibility that potential in that child
possibility that potential in that child to be a good person I don’t I feel like
to be a good person I don’t I feel like
to be a good person I don’t I feel like these children definitely need to be
these children definitely need to be
these children definitely need to be given a second chance
given a second chance
given a second chance because every young child no matter how
because every young child no matter how
because every young child no matter how angry matters they are our children of
angry matters they are our children of
angry matters they are our children of the future thank you
”
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