SOS Day celebrated

A Correspondent

Shillong, June 24: SOS day is celebrated every year on June 23 worldwide to commemorate the birth anniversary of Hermann Gmiener, founder of SOS Children's Village who started the vision to render lost love and care to orphan children globally and has 133 intertiol projects. In India, it has 33 projects and one is in Meghalaya.

In Meghalaya also, SOS Children's Village, Shillong celebrated this auspicious day amidst the presence of Dr. T. Dkhar, Commissioner & Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Meghalaya and H. Shandling, Director, Department of Social Welfare.

The programme began with the lighting of the lamp by the guests after which messages from the president and secretary general, SOS Children's Villages, India were read out by the Director, Anoop Singh. Ms. Withila Sangma shared her fifteen years of experiences in looking after the children in the village and how the journey has been challenging. Rurly Iawphniaw, one of the SOS child who recently cleared his class XII arts examitions and is undergoing admission process to the Institute of Hotel Magement, Cheni also shared his emotiol journey of his upbringing in SOS Shillong and how he has been blessed to be brought up there and given the opportunity to excel.

 In his speech, chief guest T. Dkhar applauded the enduring work of the mothers in rearing these underprivileged children. He was also mesmerized with the aspirations of the children who want to pursue their career in various academic spheres and the platform SOS children village children, Shillong is giving to these children. He also applauded the concept and vision of the founding father, Hermann Gmiener to render services to such children and the issues that has cropped up for the village in the wake of construction of the Shillong by-pass.

A total of sixteen children who appeared for their class X and class XII arts examitions were felicitated by the chief guest. Special prizes were given to, Ms. Wanpynhun Thubru, who secured 74 per cent in her class XII arts examitions and Ms. Julie Lyngdoh who secured 60 per cent in her class X examitions.

 To brighten the spirit of the programme, dance, songs and cultural performances were performed by the children and mothers.