What do orphans do on New Year's Eve?
The dawn of 1 January 2024 brought a special warmth to the cold and foggy campus of the Monosapara Academy of Science (MAS) boarding school. Despite the chill, the atmosphere was one of jubilation and enthusiasm. The entire school family came together to welcome the New Year with joy and hope. Even the orphans were present.
In the morning, the students, mostly orphans who had stayed at the hostel during the Christmas and winter holidays, dressed in their best clothes. Their faces were radiant with smiles and happiness. The route led to the large auditorium where the festive moments of school life take place. The Christmas and New Year decorations played with all the colours and underlined the festivity of this special occasion.
Cake cutting and New Year's celebration
The ceremony began at 8:00 a.m. with a joint hymn of praise by teachers and students. The headmaster offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the coming of 2024 and asked the Almighty for blessings and good fortune for everyone present and for the school as a whole. In a separate speech, he motivated the children to be diligent in their studies and wished them much joy in acquiring new knowledge and skills. The teachers and children then exchanged personal wishes.
And then came the moment the little ones had been looking forward to - cutting the cake together. It became a kind of metaphor for shared hopes and dreams for the coming year, and everyone was able to take a piece.
No one left alone, or a joyful sense of belonging
For disadvantaged students, especially orphans and those who could not return home for Christmas and New Year, this day had a very special meaning. The celebration gave them a deep sense of belonging and joy. The teachers understood the feelings of loneliness and sadness that these students experience during the Christmas and New Year holidays. That's why they tried their best to make the children feel special.
The celebration continued with a delicious meal in the dining hall, which brought everyone closer together. Teachers took pictures with the students to capture the memories of a day that brought so much joy.
The New Year celebration at Monoshapara Boarding School went beyond the normal school event. It became a day of kindness, togetherness and shared joy at a new opportunity. It was an unforgettable day for the orphans and underprivileged students.
