What can I do..... ?

I was told that my boys (the group of students I teach in the morning) go among the rubbish heaps to pick up things that they can find value for in the morning before they come to my class later in the morning.

I was sad to hear that and I was wondering how I would feel if I witnessed any of them doing the pick of the litter. And indeed after three months there, I witnessed two of my boys among the rubbish holding a big empty rice bag concentrating on the heap of litter. My heart went out to them and one of them is just nine years old and the other is fourteen years old. The fourteen year old boy is a hardworking boy and good-natured, I presume he could be spending the time studying if he is not out trying to pick good out of the unwanted. I have a special touch with this boy and I do not understand why. When he is absent I tend to be disappointed. I think partly I know that though he is weak, he is hardworking and I admire him for that. I also recognize that missing one class for him is crucial because he is a little behind the other few boys and he is not as quick to learn new things and I am worried that he would give up.

It is not so simple as just giving up learning English, it could mean getting into bad company and picking up bad habits because the place is notorious for illegal activities in the evening and into the night. It could mean a ruined life. And especially at his age, things turn wayward rather easily.

I have heard and seen people who rely on rubbish picking for a livelihood in Cambodia, Philippines and now in Delhi but I never ever expect to come so close to one. And as I recall, he was down with diarrhea about three weeks ago for a few days and today he is down with vomiting and had missed classes and I just realized yesterday (after seeing him in the rubbish heap) that it is because he is exposed to so much germs and bacteria in the midst of heaps of litter.

Yet, how much can I do? I cannot possibly tell him to stop doing it and that I could render some monetary help. And I cannot deny that this is happening and numb myself and carry on with my life status quo. But what can I do




I can pray for him at least and at most and let Him show that he is loved by the Almighty.