Guwahati: It’s Christmas Eve, and while the whole of Guwahati was in celebration mode, a group of underprivileged children of the city had their share of the celebrations in the form of a river cruise in the Brahmaputra.
The 33 children on board the Alfresco were from a school for underprivileged children run by Avas Foundation, an NGO working for the development of women and children in the North East. It runs four schools at Maligaon, Panbazar, Bamunimaidam and Bhangagarh, which operate under the National Child Labour Project.
The children enjoyed the cruise under the supervision of four teachers from the school along with an executive member of Avas. The Alfresco team led by its proprietor Shanti Doley had invited the children for a cruise, The Assam Tribune reported.
“Our children had a great time at the cruise. We would love the children of our remaining three schools also to enjoy a river cruise. Avas always encourages people to organise such activities for the children. With the festivities going on in full swing, we have more of such activities coming up in few weeks,” Pomi Baruah of Avas Foundation said.
“Actually many people came forward this winter season to help our children of Bamunimaidam, Maligaon, Bhangagarh and Panbazar schools. They donated warm clothes, shoes, food and stationary liberally,” she added.
The children were presented various gifts, including winterwear by the NGO as well as some other good Samaritans.
The Round Table Guwahati 240 organised an art competition and Christmas celebration for the Panbazar and Bhangagarh schools.