IGCSE/GCSE/O & A Level/IB/University Student Forum
General Chat NEW! The Student Forums Chatroom => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Romeesa-Chan on August 01, 2011, 02:08:08 am
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On my latest trip to Egypt something happened that I would like to share with you. This incident is based on my belief that the children of the world are mine and yours.
One morning as I walked to the souk (street where vendors sell things in small shops) I saw a little street person. She was only 4 or 5 years old.
This tiny child was picking up old, half-eaten bread from the dirty street and eating it.
She was not asking people for money, she was foraging for food. When I saw this, I knew I had to do something.
I went over and, in my best half-Arabic and half-English, I tried to speak with her.
The dirty little street child looked up with beautiful brown eyes and stared at me.
She stepped back, frightened, so I took her small hand in mine and walked along the shops asking in Arabic, "Do you speak English?" until I found a man who said, "Yes, why?"
I asked the man to tell the little girl that if she would follow me to the nearest food cart, I would buy her food. He asked me why I would do such a thing for a beggar.
I told him that she had not begged me for anything and she was eating off the street.
He told the little girl what I had said. Then I asked him, "How much should it cost me for the pocket bread with beans in it?" he smiled and explained two pounds, or about 50 cents.
He walked with us to the food cart (I am not sure if he thought I might hurt the girl or what) but once there he told the man at the cart what I was doing and helped me to buy three pocket breads. I gave one to the little one and she ate it as if she had not eaten for days. The other two I put into a bag and handed to her.
She smiled a wondrous smile and ran off. The shopkeeper smiled and went back to his shop.
The next morning on my way to the souk, the little one was waiting. She obviously knew a good thing when she saw it. I laughed and said, "ok, breakfast again?" and repeated the action of the day before, thinking that, for at least 14 days, this little one would have breakfast and maybe lunch, depending on with whom she was sharing the other pocket breads.
The shopkeeper smiled and so did the cart vendor. We seemed to have become fast friends over this little deed.
That night I got to thinking about my little street urchin. She was so dirty and smelled so badly. What else could I do to help her?
The next morning I was off to the souk again but this time I had a bigger plan. As I came around the corner, right on time, there she was, smiling.
I took her hand and went over to the shopkeeper and asked "Where is there water?" He thought I wanted bottled water to drink and I explained, "No, I want a faucet, like where the people wash before prayers." He looked at me like "now you really are a crazy American!!" and then he showed me a little side alley and there was a water faucet.
"Ok, here goes," I thought. "What will these people think? But, oh well." I reached into my bag and pulled out a newspaper and laid out a soap bar, a wash cloth, shampoo and cream rinse (the kind you get in nice little bottles at good hotels).
Now for the hard part: getting her out of her rags without upsetting everyone. The water was cold but it was the best I could do. So off came her clothes and I started soaping her down. She wiggled and squirmed the whole time but I could tell by the smile on her face she loved having someone care for her.
It took two soapings to clean her and all the shampoo to help her smell wonderful. Out of my bag I pulled a towel and dried her off. Then I pulled out a little dress from the bag I was carrying. I had bought the dress for a friend's child who, I decided, could do with one less dress this year. This little one needed it more. As I lifted the dress out, and she saw it, her face lit up like any child's at Christmas. It was a little big but she would grow into it.
Then I noticed something: a crowd had gathered. I had been so intent on my clean-up job, I had not noticed.
Now I looked up into the beaming faces of men, women and other children. The shopkeeper asked why I was helping this child and my answer was, "The children of the world are mine and yours. If we don't care for them, who will?"
I told him this child was as much mine as if I had given birth to her; that we are all responsible for the children, and if one child went to bed hungry then we were not doing our part."
He turned to the crowd and told them what I had said and they began to nod their heads "yes." It was as if in this single little act of helping this child, a miracle had happened. I bent and wrapped the old dress and the soap and things into a plastic bag and gave it to the little one before we went off to get her morning breakfast. Things had changed: the food vendor would not take money and gave her her food. We hugged and I went off to do my work.
The next day, I had many business things to do and didn't go to the souk and then I became ill and was not able to go to for five days. On the sixth day I walked the street looking for her, and boom! There she was in her new dress. Smiling, the shopkeeper came running up and said, "Madame, I thought you must have gone home." I said no I had been ill and he told me not to worry, they had made sure she had food each day. "But," he said, "each morning she would set out looking for you for hours. I tried telling her you had gone home and she would say no, and wait."
I asked the man if I gave him $40.00, would he make sure she was fed each day; that would cover about a year. He said yes and that others would help as they felt Allah had sent me as a teacher to them. I laughed and thought, "Spirit at work again."
The day before I left Cairo, I sat down with the little girl and the shopkeeper as translator, and had him tell her I was leaving but that she would be fed each day, and I would try to come back next year. I brought her a bag of fruit bars, soap, shampoo and a sweater much too big but it would keep her warm. I gave her 10 pounds.
Where her parents are , I do not know. I only know that one person can make a difference to a child. If, each trip, I am able to touch a child then I have done Spirit's work.
The children of the world are mine and yours.
Author: Atira Hatton
[Got it as an e-mail]
I loved the story so thought of sharing with you all! =]
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah." [Al-Imran 3:110]
It is reported from ‘Alî b. Abî Tâlib –Allah be pleased with him – that he said:
The thing I fear for you most is following desires and having extensive hopes (about this worldly life). Following one’s desires blocks you from the truth, and having extensive hopes makes you forget the hereafter. Verily, this worldly life is departing and the hereafter is approaching and each of them has its children. So be children of the hereafter, not children of this world, for today there are (opportunities to do) deeds and there is no reckoning, but tomorrow there will be reckoning and no deeds.
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A beautiful story. I love kids and children. They are my life. :D
When I went for the Charity Organization to the 'Street Children' department, the volunteers job was to have campaigns about children. They would go to the streets after being trained and speak to the young children who live there. They would then convince the children to join the Charity Organization so that they get educated, learn manners, religion, play, eat, etc.
It's a very sweet story and children are the assets of this world. My new lesson, which I already wrote and will share soon, is speaking about children and their importance in our society, so I hope everyone reads it inshAllah. =]
Jazaka Allah khair for sharing Romeesa. I really loved it, as I went on reading..the smile didn't part my face. =]
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A beautiful story. I love kids and children. They are my life. :D
When I went for the Charity Organization to the 'Street Children' department, the volunteers job was to have campaigns about children. They would go to the streets after being trained and speak to the young children who live there. They would then convince the children to join the Charity Organization so that they get educated, learn manners, religion, play, eat, etc.
It's a very sweet story and children are the assets of this world. My new lesson, which I already wrote and will share soon, is speaking about children and their importance in our society, so I hope everyone reads it inshAllah. =]
Jazaka Allah khair for sharing Romeesa. I really loved it, as I went on reading..the smile didn't part my face. =]
I love kids too! :D
MA, that's great! =]
Hoping to read it soon, IA. (:
Same here! =] It was truly touching!
Thank yuh fer reading! =]
WAllah, it makes me happy! :D
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I love kids too! :D
MA, that's great! =]
Hoping to read it soon, IA. (:
Same here! =] It was truly touching!
Thank yuh fer reading! =]
WAllah, it makes me happy! :D
I forget the +Rep. ;)
I'll spread the love now and +rep you.
I'm now addicted to SF because you keep posting many interesting stuff to read all the time! :P
Too much, take it easy on us Romeesa. We'll break from your awesomeness. ;D
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I'm sleepy, can't read it now ;D iA in the morning, thanks Romy for sharing ;)
By the way both of you are still online? :o
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I forget the +Rep. ;)
I'll spread the love now and +rep you.
I'm now addicted to SF because you keep posting many interesting stuff to read all the time! :P
Too much, take it easy on us Romeesa. We'll break from your awesomeness. ;D
No need! :P Lol. :P
Yuh read it that's enough! :D
Hahahaha! :P
Tonight, I am in a great mood! ;D Felt like reading some decent articles and stuff! :D
See my new thread! All pinkyyyy. :P
MU: Please do! ;)
Yeah, I am. ::) Didn't feel like sleeping! :D :P
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I'm sleepy, can't read it now ;D iA in the morning, thanks Romy for sharing ;)
By the way both of you are still online? :o
Yeah, we guard the forum at night. :P You didn't sleep yet? :O
@Romeesa, LOOOOOOL you'll drive me crazy now! Every time I refresh SF I find a new thread by you! :P
I'll check the pinkkyy thread now. :D
I'm also in a GREAT MOOD ALHAMDOLILAH! I am really HAPPY alhamdolilah! :D :-*
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Yeah, we guard the forum at night. :P You didn't sleep yet? :O
@Romeesa, LOOOOOOL you'll drive me crazy now! Every time I refresh SF I find a new thread by you! :P
I'll check the pinkkyy thread now. :D
I'm also in a GREAT MOOD ALHAMDOLILAH! I am really HAPPY alhamdolilah! :D :-*
A guard like me is needed not you two :P :P Woke up for fajr:D
I saw the new one.Great Romeesa, keep it up ;)
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Yeah, we guard the forum at night. :P You didn't sleep yet? :O
@Romeesa, LOOOOOOL you'll drive me crazy now! Every time I refresh SF I find a new thread by you! :P
I'll check the pinkkyy thread now. :D
I'm also in a GREAT MOOD ALHAMDOLILAH! I am really HAPPY alhamdolilah! :D :-*
Bwahahahahaha! :P Yupe SF guards. 8)
Muhahahaha! :P >:D
Me too! :-* :-* :-*
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@MU, yeah right! You are still a little boy. *pats on the head*
Romeesa and I are your grandma's so now go and prepare us something to eat. :P
Will you sleep again now? :O Don't go and sleep again. >:(
@Romeesa, yeah. :P
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@MU, yeah right! You are still a little boy. *pats on the head*
Romeesa and I are your grandma's so now go and prepare us something to eat. :P
Will you sleep again now? :O Don't go and sleep again. >:(
@Romeesa, yeah. :P
Hahahaha! :P Grandmas FTW! 8)
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@MU, yeah right! You are still a little boy. *pats on the head*
Romeesa and I are your grandma's so now go and prepare us something to eat. :P
Will you sleep again now? :O Don't go and sleep again. >:(
@Romeesa, yeah. :P
Lol both of you are too old to guard.
Oh too bad granny, it's Ramadan and you wanna eat:P Bad Grandma:P
Sleep ya I will. I slept 2 hours only ;D
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^Take my post now. Yer nanny is tired.
Good night Good morning all! :-*
Masalama! =]
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^Take my post now. Yer nanny is tired.
Good night Good morning all! :-*
Masalama! =]
LOL, good night/morning. =]
Sleep well! :D
@MU, prepare us breakfast at 6 pm I meant. :P
What a a great guard sleeping all night/day. :P
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LOL, good night/morning. =]
Sleep well! :D
@MU, prepare us breakfast at 6 pm I meant. :P
What a a great guard sleeping all night/day. :P
Lol it's your turn now. I guarded the whole night :P :P
Off I go to sleep ;D
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Lol it's your turn now. I guarded the whole night :P :P
Off I go to sleep ;D
LOOOOOL SUCH A LIAR! You're fasting, don't lieeeeeeeee it's haram. :P
Go sleep kiddo. Pfft guard. Yea right. ::) You're just afraid from the thieves(bots :P) I know son *pats on the head*
Good morning. Salam. =]
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LOOOOOL SUCH A LIAR! You're fasting, don't lieeeeeeeee it's haram. :P
Go sleep kiddo. Pfft guard. Yea right. ::) You're just afraid from the thieves(bots :P) I know son *pats on the head*
Good morning. Salam. =]
Lol ramadan strts from tomorrow for us:D
Lool it's opposite. They must be afraid from me, don't you remember how I banned them the first day :P :P
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Lol ramadan strts from tomorrow for us:D
Lool it's opposite. They must be afraid from me, don't you remember how I banned them the first day :P :P
Oh wow. :O Why is Ramadan on a different day for you? :O
So just because it's not Ramadan you lie. ::) ::) :P
LOOOOL yeah right. We wouldn't be getting 1000 registering if they were afraid. :P
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Oh wow. :O Why is Ramadan on a different day for you? :O
So just because it's not Ramadan you lie. ::) ::) :P
LOOOOL yeah right. We wouldn't be getting 1000 registering if they were afraid. :P
What I heard in the news is that they haven't cited the moon.
It's not a lie but a truth:P but they didnt activate, they were waiting for me to leave and then attack:P
Hey shouldn't this be among staffs:P lol
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What I heard in the news is that they haven't cited the moon.
It's not a lie but a truth:P but they didnt activate, they were waiting for me to leave and then attack:P
Hey shouldn't this be among staffs:P lol
Ah okay. I guess it's the same for Pakistan, India, etc yes?
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL hahahahaha....I'm lolling. Oh la la. You are a real hero young man. :P NOT. :P
And you revealed the staff secret? :O You must be banned! :o Shush shush shush stop talking about it. :P
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Ah okay. I guess it's the same for Pakistan, India, etc yes?
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL hahahahaha....I'm lolling. Oh la la. You are a real hero young man. :P NOT. :P
And you revealed the staff secret? :O You must be banned! :o Shush shush shush stop talking about it. :P
Yup its the same...
Loool you revealed it first ----> 1000 registering :P :P
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Are you guys fasting today? :-/ Here in BD, Ramadan starts from tomorrow.. ???
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Thanks alot Romeesa-chan for sharing
JazaAllah Khair
Kids annoy me at times but i do love kids.....annoyance is just a small feeling i sometimes get.
the story was great
the children of the world are mine and yours
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OMG!! This is such a cuteeee and loving story <33
I love kids too :D they are the most cutest and innocent creatures, its heart-breaking to see how many kids are left alone on streets nowadays and many dont get food to eat or clothes to wear =(
Thanks for sharing :D
@SE: Yes we are fasting here in middle-east, I think BD goes with pak cause even in pak ramdan starts one day after KSA. :D
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Amazing story,+rep :)
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Are you guys fasting today? :-/ Here in BD, Ramadan starts from tomorrow.. ???
Where is BD? :P
OMG!! This is such a cuteeee and loving story <33
I love kids too :D they are the most cutest and innocent creatures, its heart-breaking to see how many kids are left alone on streets nowadays and many dont get food to eat or clothes to wear =(
Thanks for sharing :D
@SE: Yes we are fasting here in middle-east, I think BD goes with pak cause even in pak ramdan starts one day after KSA. :D
Kids are priceless beings <3
It's sad how millions of them are homeless! =[
Thanks fer reading, chere! =]
Amazing story,+rep :)
Thanks fer reading! =]
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BD = Bangladesh
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BD = Bangladesh
I thought so. ::) Just wanted to confirm. :P