Foster parents take kids home for Onam

KOZHIKODE: The four children of government children’s home here had never waited for Onam vacation like this time. Their anxiety knew no bounds on Sunday when they saw the foster parents coming to the children’s home to take them. This is the second vacation since the district child protection unit (DCPU) launched the foster care programme during last summer vacation. The first vacation had cemented the bonding between the foster family and children which caused the reunion second time.

Akhil and his sister Gopika (names changed) have found a new meaning to life during the summer vacation with foster family. The sister and brother got two new siblings—biological children of the foster parents. “After the vacation, Akhil and Gopika have shown tremendous improvement. Both are now toppers in their class. Their confidence has increased and now they have a dream for future,” said district child protection officer (DCPO) C.K. Sheeba Mumtaz.

“We will take them for outings, movies, functions, etc. like as we treat biological kids. Now as their arrival is the second time, relatives and neighbours are not strangers to them,” smiles the teacher who is the foster father of Akhil and Gopika. “During the first vacation, the children were unfamiliar with social behaviour as they lacked family life. Now it has changed.”

A foster mother told DC that institutionalised children naturally do not come to know about the importance of sharing. “Amidst family, my foster child was reluctant to share things. Now, he has changed after knowing that sharing is not giving alone but receiving also,” she said. During the last summer holidays, 28 parents had taken 36 children to their homes. Of them, three children have been continuing with the parents.