Issue 2
Connect
AMJ 2017
on their birthdays,’ says mother Aparna. ‘Ravi and I often discussed this.
Moving into a plush expat Shanghai neighbourhood from a homely
Netherlands may have been the trigger.’
Since they started celebrating birthdays in this special way in 2012, Siddharth
has adopted a Giraffe in Africa, a Polar Bear in the Arctic, helped build a
Community Library in Shanghai, donated musical instruments (with sister
Anushka) to a music school in the Phillipines, supported Charity Water – an
international program and enabled 32 children in Shanghai get their eyes
checked and get vision correction glasses. Anushka has adopted an elephant
in Africa, a Koala in Australia and supported Room to Read.
What do the kids think and feel about it?
‘Unique. Proud’, Siddharth expresses. ‘I am changing the world, making it a
better place.’
Don’t you feel like having a normal birthday, like all other children?
‘We HAVE a party like everyone else.’ Siddhartha and Anushka take turns to
clarify. ‘There are games and friends and fun. Only, no presents.’
Don’t you miss presents? Ever?
‘No. We have a lot of toys,’ the kids explain. ‘And there is not so much space.
Actually, we get one present from our parents. And we get to choose a
restaurant for our birthday dinner.’
Don’t your friends ask you why you are doing this and not just do what others
do?
No. Because we explain all that in our presentations.
The process and the excitement starts months ahead of their birthdays. An
extensive online research and dinner table discussions later, the kids select,
on their own initiative, a cause they want to support for the year. They craft a
pitch they would present to their friends. Often with the class teacher’s
support, they make a presentation to the class, and explain why and what they
are doing and how their friends can help. So far they have received very
encouraging response from teachers, friends and parents of friends.
A birthday party is hosted to celebrate the child’s special day. But the
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