Our CAPS (Child Adoption Program Students) were invited to ‘Ignite16’, a unique social fest organized by the students of Nirmaan, BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad campus. Our kids actively participated in various activities of Ignite16 over the two days of the fest.

On day one, the CAPS had a wonderful time, full of games and activities. Their day ended pretty late at night, and all the children were ready to fall asleep. We made our way to a large dormitory shared with two other NGOs, but the room was far from peaceful. A group of children from another NGO were quarrelling with each other over something. While one group of children were drooping with sleep, the other group was running around the room, throwing shoes at each other, shouting loudly and making a huge ruckus.

We observed the CAPS, aged around 11 years old, to see how they would respond in this situation, without giving any instructions. As children, they could have reacted in many ways: ignoring the other children, complaining about the situation, or joining the chaos. However, we were very happy to see that they chose to proactively resolve the situation and bring about harmony among everyone.

The CAPS stepped in, approached the children who were pulling each other’s hair, and spoke to them calmly. They asked them if something was wrong, and if there was something they could do to help. It took them multiple attempts, as the children were not ready to listen. But the CAPS kept trying, and eventually they understood that there was a shortage of blankets. They took initiative and approached the supervising volunteers on their own and requested them for more blankets. Then , they helped the children fall asleep. They waited until even the youngest child was asleep, patting her to sleep, before going back to their own beds.

The next day, the same kids interacted with the CAPS again, with a feeling of familiarity and friendship.

It was an absolute delight to watch the proactiveness and maturity that our children had shown, and the cooperation they brought about in that small group. All this happened without any directives or instructions from us.  

The children maintaining harmony among themselves as a group of 50 members was already a notable achievement. What made it even more remarkable is that they also acted as agents of harmony, creating and spreading the harmony to others around them.