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Giving Back: A Family Tradition

Ananyaa with children at the orphanage
Ananyaa with children at the orphanage

Ananyaa visits a child at an orphanage in Delhi.

Children around the world love all types of family activities, whether it’s Friday night movies, bedtime stories, or holiday celebrations. Some traditions have been handed down for generations. Others may be relatively new. Either way, traditions are a great way to bring families together. 

There is one special tradition that my family and I particularly enjoy. Each month, we visit an orphanage in Delhi, not far from where we live.

 

“A BETTER AND BRIGHTER INIDA”

I first visited an orphanage six years ago. My father, Vikram Chopra, started the tradition. It allows us to spend time together as a family and to give back to our community.

We always bring food, coloring books, and crayons to distribute to the children. It makes them so happy to receive the gifts. “Even a small contribution makes a big difference,” says my mother, Nidhi. “There’s nothing that can satisfy a person more than bringing a smile to the faces of the less fortunate.”

Regular interactions with hundreds of children enable us to get to know them better. We sing, dance, and play video games together. The children always await our visits.

“Teaching these young ones to read and write has been [inspiring] and promises a better and brighter India,” says Lisa Solomon, an orphanage volunteer.

It’s never too late to create new family traditions of your own.

 

Photo courtesy of the author