Description
Salman let his gap-toothed smile do most of the talking for him, when we met. A Kandy boy, he used to live with his Mother, brother and big sister. One of the younger children in GLH, he says he likes everything around him, seemingly content.
Conversant in simple English, Salman spoke to me in Tamil about school and his friends, especially Osama nana whom he says is his favorite. Showing a preference to studying Tamil as a subject as well, the little boy tells me he has no inclination to any organized sport so far, content with just playing with a ball.
He would not talk much with me, despite my coaxing, the smile never leaving his face. Eventually he tells me what he likes about GLH. He is fed well, taught well, and – grinning wide – he gets to sleep well too.
His answer to my parting question was unexpected from a child so young. “What is your ambition?”, I asked. “To become a Sir!”, he said. Then realizing my confusion “I want to become a teacher, a (school) Principal!” he asserted, full of confidence.
