My name is Aurore, I am 23 years old and come from France. I had the opportunity to volunteer with El Shaddai at the Little Acorns center in Calangute for three months in 2025. This experience has been truly unforgettable and deeply meaningful for me.

From the very beginning, one of the main challenges was the language barrier. I could not always communicate with the children through words, but I quickly learned that smiles, laughter, and simple gestures were often enough to connect. The children responded with such warmth that soon we developed our own way of understanding each other. They affectionately called me “Deedee,” which touched me deeply.

I was amazed and moved to see the transformation of the children during my time at the center. At first, many of them during their first days in the center were very quiet and shy, observing everything from a distance. But as the days passed, I witnessed them opening up, making friends, laughing loudly, playing and dancing with others, and enjoying every small moment. It was a joy to see their confidence grow and their personalities shine.

One of the highlights for me was participating in their learning activities. Their excitement when solving exercises or proudly showing me their work was truly inspiring. I will always remember their smiles when I congratulated them on their progress. We also shared so many moments of pure joy and fun, like playing endless games of rock–paper–scissors, dancing to hindi songs, or when they taught me new words in Hindi.

Beyond the center, I also had the chance to visit children living in the slums. We brought them meals and introduced them to basic lessons. These visits were very moving, as they reminded me how much I take for granted in my own reality, having food, knowing how to read and write. Even though I was already aware of these differences, experiencing them firsthand was overwhelming and profoundly eye-opening.

This experience at Little Acorns has taught me so much about resilience, kindness, and the power of human connection. I feel truly grateful to El Shaddai and especially to the children, who gave me memories I will carry with me forever.

A.Poujol