It is rightly said that the parents are the role models for their children and lead them by their example. Minouti Kamat of Mumbai is one such example. A volunteer, Minouti has become the role model for her 10-year-old daughter, Tanya, who, like her, desires to serve the society and do humanitarian work.
Minouti is associated with an NGO and works with orphan children since the last few years. Little did she know that she was being watched so closely by her daughter, who at such a tender age tries to follow the suit.
Recalling a conversation with her husband, Minouti says, “I was sharing with my husband the difficulty that our NGO was facing in finding volunteers for teaching art and craft to the underprivileged children. While we had all the materials, we were unable to find a teacher.” Minouti did not realize that her daughter was over hearing their conversation. To her surprise, Tanya, who was just nine year old at that time, volunteered to teach the children.
“I was greatly touched. Tanya is a creative child and excels in arts and craft. But as she was too young, I was in double mind,” says Minouti.
However, seeing the seriousness of the child, the parents agreed to her request and Tanya joined the NGO, ‘Social Action and You’ in January 2015 to teach art and craft to the underprivileged children.
Tanya today not only conducts art and craft classes for ‘Social Action and You’ but is also associated with another NGO called ‘Sona Sarovar Trust’.
“I go along with my mother during the weekends as I don’t have school. I have tried to teach them making simple jewellery out of loom bands. I also read stories and explain to them in Hindi,” says Tanya with a smile.
The students are happy with their young teacher. While some of them are elder to Tanya, they have no hesitation in learning from her. “She is like our friend and teaches so nicely,” remarks a child.
Tanya too is pleased in donning the role. “We are like friends and greatly enjoy the classes,” she adds.
Minouti feels satisfied to see her daughter’s inclination towards social service. “One of the most important things we adults can do for our children is to model the kind of person we would like them to be. I am happy that my daughter has learnt to be helpful and kind and loves to serve the society from a very young age,” beamingly says Minouti.
Indeed, parents handle life’s scripts to their children, scripts that in all likelihood will be acted out for the rest of the children’s lives.
