My name is Balram, and I am 12 years old. I live with my family in a slum area, where life is hard, and every day is a struggle. Our slum is crowded, with narrow lanes and small houses packed closely together. The conditions here are tough, especially when it comes to hygiene. Most of us don’t have proper facilities or materials to keep ourselves clean, and that makes life even harder. Our family’s home is small, just one hut where we all sleep, eat, and live together. We don’t have a bathroom inside our house, so we have to use the community facilities, which are often dirty and overcrowded. It’s difficult to stay clean when you don’t have the right things like soap, toothpaste, or even a proper bucket to store water. My parents work hard, but they don’t earn much, so buying these things is often not possible. Because of the poor hygiene in our slum, many people, especially children like me, often fall sick. I’ve seen my friends suffer from diseases because they couldn’t keep themselves clean. It’s a scary thought, but it’s the reality we live in. I always wished we could have the things we need to take care of ourselves better, but I knew it was just a wish.

Then, one day, something happened that changed everything. Rajasthan Samgrah Kalyan Sansthan (RSKS India) came to our slum with a special program. They were distributing hygiene kits and food packets to the families in our area. I remember the excitement that filled the air when we heard the news. For once, it felt like someone cared about us, about the problems we face every day. When the day came, I joined the crowd with my parents. The RSKS team was kind and welcoming. They gave us each a food packet filled with things we usually only dream of having—fruit cake, soft drinks, chocolates, cream biscuits, kurkure, and chips. It was like a festival in our slum; everyone was smiling and happy. But the most important part for me was the hygiene kit they gave us. Inside the big bucket, there was a comb, bathing and washing soaps, toothpaste, a toothbrush set, hair oil, a bathing mug, and even a nail cutter. It was everything we needed to keep ourselves clean and healthy. I had never seen my parents so relieved. They were happy that finally, we had the things we needed to take care of ourselves.

With these new items, life started to feel a little better. I no longer had to worry about not having soap to wash my hands after playing or food to fill my stomach. The bucket became our prized possession, and every morning, I used the new toothbrush and toothpaste to clean my teeth. It was a simple thing, but it made me feel good, like I was taking care of myself in a way I couldn’t before. Thanks to RSKS India, our family now has the basics we need to live with a bit more dignity. I see my friends using their hygiene kits too, and it feels good to know that we’re all a little safer from sickness because we can keep ourselves clean. The food they gave us brought joy to our hearts and filled our bellies when we needed it the most.