The magical boy and his ART

One of my favorite things that I look forward to each school year is the artwork that comes home intermittently. To me, art that children create is so divine. It’s a peek at innocence and freedom that cannot be easily attained by an adult. I frame some and add others to my door collage.

When I first went to Nepal in 2009, a beautiful boy named Dilip and his magical art instantly mesmerized me. He was just 7 years old when we first met and even at this early age his sketching was breathtakingly magnificent and any untrained eye would agree. I cherished the picture he drew for me and thought of him often throughout the next 6 years. All the children touch your heart when you visit a children’s home, but there are always a few who touch your soul; Dilip was one of them.

Dilip was only 3 years old when he was found abandoned on a road near the community police station. He was quickly brought to the Aishworya Children’s Home in Kathmandu, Nepal. He was very shy and did not talk for nearly 2 months. The staff nurtured him back with love and kindness. By 5 years old, they could see his love for drawing, so they would request paper and colored pencils from volunteers and donors so he could create his masterpieces.

Unfortunately, at 7 years old, Dilip contracted tuberculosis. Then at age 12 he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis in his lungs, which became life threatening. He spent weeks in the hospital and his treatments continue to be an added expense for the children’s home, with daily visits to the hospital for medicine.

I was fortunate to travel to Nepal again in March 2015. I couldn’t wait to see all the children again, but especially Dilip. I was thrilled to see he still enjoyed drawing. What was so adorable is that his passion for art has spread and almost all the other 49 children at the children’s home also love to draw! They all spend hours drawing their unique cards after homework and chores are done.

When I was there, I had an idea of sharing the children’s art with the world and simultaneously raising money for the orphanage. The director was thrilled!  The children were also very excited to think their artwork could help feed and clothe them and of course Dilip thought it was an excellent idea. He sat with the children and they handmade over 100 cards while I was there. They are continuing to make them and will be sending me more to help raise money for their English education, school shoes, rice, water, and gas for cooking.

If you’d like to help, please donate a minimum of $25 to receive 5 random notecard hand-drawn works of art from the Aishworya children. The children’s home is privately funded and Project Left Behind is one of its largest donors. The home is in desperate need of purified drinking water in the dry season, which is November-April. Our goal is to raise $450 for this. If we reach our goal, we will use the rest of the donations for the yearly gas expense ($1,000), which is needed for cooking 50 meals twice a day.

Handwriting is becoming obsolete, but there are some great benefits to writing a note to someone. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/traci-bild/5-reasons-to-write-a-handwritten-letter-now-not-later_b_7284236.html And you’ll be helping some amazing children, which is the most important reason to participate!

If you’d like to help, please go to https://projectleftbehind.org/donate/ and make your donation today.

“May an angel’s wing touch every orphan”

Sending lots of peace and love your way,

Danielle