Description
Little Ahmed was not an easy person to speak to. A child of not many words, a sense of melancholy hung about him like an old cloth. An only child originally from Sarikamulla, Ahmed’s mother walked away from his life, leaving him with his Aunt. “It’s been 11 months since I came here”, he tells me, trying to smile for my benefit. He seems to have settled down.
Ahmed speaks very basic English, demonstrating it by asking me ‘What’s your name?’. He also speaks some Sinhalese, in addition to Tamil, his mother tongue. He says he likes Mathematics and English the best at school.
Husni is his best friend, and with him and the others he plays Football and Cricket in the evenings. He says he likes to work with Computers and that he likes to study too. I asked him if there was anything that he disliked or which bothered him. It transpired that children at his school tend to bully him and push him around. He does complain to teachers he says, but he’d really like to be left alone.
He seemed happy with the home GLH was to him, where he was well taken care of. He did mention that he loves eating Apples, something that is not on their regular menu.
Again, I did not ask a Child what his ambitions were. But this time by choice. I decided to leave it for another day, and give him his space.
