A TOUCH

A touch can do so much. I realized this when I volunteered to work for the street children at 'Lingap Center'. They were all so in need of cares and stroking that a simple sincere touch can really brighten their days. But in the streets where they lived before being brought to the center, they were rejected and dejected, even ejected. In their own "homes" they were objects of punishment and parental sadism, the reason why they preferred the streets.

I wish I could do more to help them aside from offering my medical services every now and then. I talked to them and listened to their stories. Their childhood were full of horrible experiences as they lived dangerously day by day. They have no idea of a real home and I wonder what their conception of love was.

Most of them have scattered scars, the constant reminders of the tortures they experienced from their own parents and other street children. Their external lesions were varied and could easily be cured by ordinary medications but their inner wounds were more painful, constantly fresh, hurting them during most of their waking moments. Their growths were stunted and even their mental development suffered as well as their nourishment. Many were still scattered on many streets exposed to bad elements of society.

They were the future generation's "hope of the fatherland". They would be involved in the shaping of the nation and if we don't help them now we could also be blamed. A touch can do so much. Let us touch them now.