l e a r n i n g o b j e c t i v e For children to learn about caring for the person in need

b i b l e a p p l i c at i o n

k e y c o n c e p t

m i s s i o n a d v e n t u r e

Matthew 25: 35-36

God is always with us

India

My Home Away from Home in India

PHOTO: ALEX BAKER

• India belongs to the continent of Asia. Its neighbours are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal and Pakistan.

• Many different languages are spoken in India. The main ones are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu.

• Because of India’s geographic location, it experiences heavy periods of rain called monsoons.

• The national symbol of India is the endangered Bengal Tiger.

• Mahatma Gandhi is famous for the important role he played in gaining India’s independence. India became an independent nation in 1947. The famous film Gandhi will tell you this story.

• The most popular sport in India is cricket.

INTRODUCTION:

The Bible is filled with stories that show how God wants us to care for the earth, other people, and ourselves. And he has a special heart for those in great need, such as refugees. God still takes special care of people like that today. We are all part of God’s family, and together we are all children of God – that’s why we have to look after each other. In these lessons, we will learn more about how we can respect and care for each other! … Read more (see Introduction Sheet)

b i b l e v e r s e :God is Always With UsMatthew 25: 35-36

With a current population of one billion, it’s estimated that India will be the most populated country in the world by the year 2020. It’s a country of enormous diversity, with a rich culture and well-developed industries existing alongside great poverty.

One of India’s big challenges is education. Around 300 million Indians, adults and children, are unable to read or write. Between 350 and 400 million people are living below the poverty line and very few of these people earn more than 52p per day.

One of the ways that BMS World Mission is helping India face these challenges is by partnering with the Good News Children’s Education Mission (GNCEM). Based in Kolkata, GNCEM runs a network of Christian schools for street children. Today there are nine different schools that reach out to children in the different slum areas of Kolkata.

These schools provide a safe environment for street children. They are cared for and have the opportunity to learn basic skills such as reading and writing.

GNCEM is a Christian ministry, but welcomes children and families who are Hindu, Muslim, or from other faiths, knowing that God loves all people.

The best-known religion in India is Hinduism, with over 80 per cent of children born into the Hindu faith. There is also a large Muslim community (12%) and a number of other small faith communities, including Christianity (2.3%).

FUN FACTS: • India is the seventh largest country in the world.

• India has the second largest population in the world, with over 1.2 billion people.

b a c k g r o u n d :India

Source:*sponsorcalcutta.org/good-news-children-education-mission.html*bmsworldmission.org*cia.gov

Source:*sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/countries/india.html

PHOTO: ALEX BAKER

Hello! My name is Rohan*. I live in Kolkata, India with my parents and two little sisters, Sita* and Sashi*. Life is tough for my family, we don’t have a lot of money and so we have to live on the streets. It’s hard not having an actual house to live in, but there is a place that feels more like home to me. To get to this place I have to wait for the big yellow bus that comes to pick me up each day. The bus comes to collect me and bring me to school! It’s great because the bus also picks up lots of children in my neighbourhood who also live on the street like me. We all love it when we see the yellow bus coming. It’s part of a mobile school and it’s run by the Good News Children’s Education Mission.

There is lots of chatter and noise on the bus ride to school – it’s packed full of us kids! And we always feel excited when the bus finally arrives at the school. The first thing that we get to do when we get to the school is wash! It’s really nice for us because we all get quite dirty living on the streets. It might sound strange to you, but I hardly ever get to shower or take a bath because I don’t live in a house, so I think it’s brilliant! It’s so nice to feel clean. After washing we are given clean shirts! It makes me so happy and it makes me feel like I belong at school.

School is great because we get to learn lots of interesting things. We learn how to read, how to count, and even about a man named Jesus. I’ve learned that he loves me, even though I am dirty sometimes and don’t have any money. That matters to me.

Another thing I like about school is that they give us a meal. That might sound strange too, but I really want it because sometimes when I’m on the streets with my family it is hard to find food. My parents don’t always have money, so sometimes I have to wait for a long time to eat another meal and I get really hungry. The good thing is that I always know that they will give me food at school! I am so thankful for school, it makes me feel safe and loved. I know it’s not my real home, but I am so grateful for the love and kindness I get there!

*Names changed

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:1. Where does Rohan live and why is it hard for him? (He lives on the streets in Kolkata, India. It’s hard because he doesn’t get to shower and doesn’t always have food.)

2. How does Rohan get to the place that feels like home? (The yellow school bus.)

3. Why do you think the school feels like home to Rohan? (It feels like home because he can shower, wear clean clothes, and always eat food. He feels safe and cared for.) 4. How do you think we can help people like Rohan in our community? (Be their friend; as a church group you can raise money for charities working overseas. You can also pray for those who are homeless or who don’t have a secure home in our country and in other parts of the world. They are all part of the global community and the family of God.)

DISCUSSION ACTIVITY:We’ve heard some of the things that mean home to Rohan and his sisters. What’s your understanding of home? How do you think it would feel to live on the streets? What things do you think you would need to feel safe and happy? (Have children draw a picture of how they would feel and of the things that they think they would need to feel safe and happy. Also have them do a bit of writing to explain their picture. Encourage children to share their drawings and their answers afterwards.)

m i s s i o n a d v e n t u r e s t o r y :

My Home Away from Home in India

PHOTO: ALEX BAKER

This activity is fun for children to make and wear. You’ll be able to tell this elephant mask is from India because of the colourful head-dress and ears!

MATERIALS:

Large white paper plates, grey paint, thin grey card, white and colourful paper, decoration (paint, gems and glitter are suggested), glue and thin elastic.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Each child paints a paper plate grey. Leave the plates to dry. After the paint has dried, cut out two eye holes. Using thin grey card, cut out a trunk and two small ears, remembering that Indian elephants have smaller ears than African elephants. If children want to, they can make cut out white tusks for their elephant mask too. Glue the ears on each side of the plate, the trunk to the middle of it, and tusks on each side of the trunk. Cut out a triangle of different coloured paper for the head-dress and glue it to the plate (the point of the triangle should sit between the eyes). Decorate the triangle with paint, gems and glitter. Make a small hole on each side of the face. Tie a piece of elastic through and you have a mask!

Source: *activityvillage.co.uk/elephant-mask

Dear God, thank you for the work that BMS is doing to help children who live on the streets in India. Please help our church to help children and families in need, both in other countries and where we live in the UK. Please bless all the people and churches that are helping people in need around the world. We know that by helping, we are showing God’s love. Please be with the street children in India and with children that need help here in the UK. Keep them safe and help them to know, like Rohan does, that you love them.

p r ay e r :Sharing God’s love

Fun d r a i s e r :Raising money for refugees

Children all around the world help out their parents or community when they can. Consider exploring the needs of your community. Is there a retirement home or a flower bed out front that could use some help? Does the animal shelter need volunteers or help stuffing envelopes? Would the children like to help keep the big yellow bus running for children like Rohan?

As a class, make a list of items that children can help with within the church community. Pick chores and odd jobs that are age appropriate, in exchange for suggested donation amounts to give to help children who don’t have a home that is safe to live in. You can send the funds raised to BMS!

Syria’s Forgotten Families

v i d e o r e s o u r c e :

You might also want to watch this BMS all-age film, Syria’s Forgotten Families, to give the group even more motivation for giving and prayer. It’s just seven minutes long and can be ordered for free from BMS or downloaded at bmsworldmission.org/syriasforgottenfamilies

Indian Elephant mask

c r a F t :

tel: 01235 517700email: mail@bmsworldmission.org web: bmsworldmission.org

BMS World MissionPO BOX 49, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 8XA

Baptist Missionary Society: registered as a charity in England and Wales (number 233782) and in Scotland (number SC037767)

© KIDS CARE, Canadian Baptist Ministries. 2016. All rights reserved.

This resource is produced in collaboration with our colleagues at Canadian Baptist Ministries.

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