As I sat down to interview Gayathri, I felt uneasy. She sat readily in front of me, swinging her legs back and forth and occasionally flashing me a bright toothy grin. Her seven year old body radiated warmth and joy and it was then that I decided that I was not going to interview her. She was too young to relive her entire past again.

I learnt later that physical abuse had been a big part of Gayathri’s life. Her parents were abusive and negligent, often leaving the wounded child without medical care for days. She never had the opportunity to go to school and was made to do small chores around the house even at the ages of three and four.

When she came to Aarti Home, she was quiet and withdrawn, but seeing the community that Aarti had built, she began to blossom. From an introverted, unfocused child, she grew into a brilliant, determined young girl with a smile to put all others to shame!

I asked Gayathri how she liked Aarti Home. She beamed with joy and readily replied:

“My favorite part of Aarti Home is my friends. I love playing with them everyday after school! We had a crafts class this summer and we made earrings and friendship bracelets together!

When I grow up, I want to be a doctor. I love making things, just like at the crafts fair but I love fixing things even more. There are many people that need help and need fixing.

I want to help. I want to fix them.”