Streetchildren pose for a photograph during a project by World Vision. File picture

Dec. 20: Christmas is in the air and children are already dreaming of the gifts from Santa Claus. But what about the hundreds of children who live in the streets fighting for one square meal a day? However, this time round Santa Claus will open his sack of goodies for the streetchildren in the city.

Christ Church Guwahati, the oldest church in Northeast, in association with the World Vision, will organise an exclusive pre-Christmas bash for the streetchildren tomorrow. The programme will be held on the premises of the church near Nehru Park.

“Being the oldest church of the region, Christ Church has been organising various events and functions for the welfare of society especially during Christmas. With the sharp increase in the number of streetchildren, the church has felt the need to do something for them and Christmas will be right time to start such a programme,” a church official said.

The event has been designed to provide the best of entertainment to streetchildren and shower them with them love and care. “We want to send the message to the street children that they are not left out or ignored,” the church official said.

The project manager of World Vision, Gamliel Sherio, has appreciated the gesture of the church. He said the children were thrilled when they received the invitation and are eagerly waiting for the bash. The children from different slums and near Guwahati railway station would participate in the programme.

World Vision is currently executing the Guwahati streetchildren project. It aims at bringing an everlasting transformation in the lives of the streetchildren and work towards the overall development of these poor and vulnerable kids.

Under the project, nearly 600 children from different areas in the city, including Patharquarry, Bamunimaidam, Six Mile, Beltola, Bhaskar Nagar and the area in and around the railway station, have benefited.

The organisation plans to expand the programme to other areas like Bishnupur, Hatigaon, Solapara and Sitlabari.

Streetchildren deserve to lead their lives like any other normal children. They fall prey to the anti-social elements who force them into various criminal activities. “Working with streetchildren, I have closely observed them and felt their pain and suffering. They are like normal children, they want to go to school and places of interest. But life is a struggle for them. The initiative of the church will impart moral education and guide them on the right track,” Sherio said.

Along with song and dance, efforts would be made during the function to sensitise the children about their rights and need of education.