Tales of a Little Boy
Back in 2016, we visited Ejemekuru community in Oguta LGA of Imo State where we carried out a medical outreach for everyone and our Smile Without Worms Project specifically focused children. We shared some of the pictures on our social media platforms and this particular boy’s picture caught the attention of many.
Dr. Ailende Osumah was one of the people who gave donations towards the project and he couldn’t help but write this beautiful piece below. He titled it, “His Tales”.
They say “a picture is worth a thousand words”,
this picture is worth more than ten thousand words.
It tells a story, tales of real life,
of real people, of children,
of innocence, of hope,
of simplicity,
of grace, of love,
of experiences,
even adults can’t boast of.
He’s a child, still imbued with innocence,
wants ‘nothing’, but needs ‘everything’.
Content and grateful,
as little as the gift might seem.
His eyes tell of the thousands of days,
that he longed for everything,
When he dreamed of it all.
Hope.
He doesn’t care about them luxuries,
the trending clothes,
the elegant toys;
the hi-tech video games,
the expensive trips,
the…
all he wants is to be happy.
Happiness for him is that meal, that transiently allays his hunger,
that castle he gets to build in the sand,
that soccer game he gets to play with an empty water bottle.
That smile he gets that brightens his day,
that warms his ‘heart’s to know someone cares,
that he is loved.
Thanks IWIF for #SmileWithoutWorms
For showing him that we care
For reminding him that from his lot our leaders shall spring forth.
For letting him know that he can be whatever he aspires to be, even in our harsh society.
And thanks for letting us know that we have a part to play in his welfare and that we can achieve this.
Looking at this picture, I hear his tales…and can’t ignore them.
