Remember Me?

Did it ever happen to you? It’s one of the most socially unpleasant situations that could occur. Someone approaches you warmly; addresses you by your first name; mentions details or situations of your personal life not many know … yet you have no idea who is in front of you.

While you try to show your best and most confident expression to the unknown interlocutor, your brain cells open all the available drawers of your memory trying to find a hint or something that would connect you to the person in front of you. And the worst is if someone else joins the conversation and asks you, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your nice friend?”

Well, during my last trip in India to visit our programs this funny social situation happened to me many times. But let me step back in time for a moment …

In June of 2016 I visited several institutions in India with a team of A Chance In Life to conduct a feasibility study. While we were there, I met and interacted with over a thousand children, mostly young girls. We played games; I performed a few magic tricks (or at least I tried!); and made an effort to learn a few Malayalam words like nanni, which means thank you.

When I returned to the same institutions last week, the same girls surrounded me with one question repeated over and over ... “Remember me?” Oh well …

They could remember all the games we played together and all the tricks I showed them. They even remembered my name and the words they taught me. But I could not remember all their names and felt terrible.

One thing, though, I remembered very well. Their smile and their gratitude for the chance in life they are receiving. Their enthusiasm and joy is the result of your sacrifice and generosity. That too, these young girls will remember forever. And every time I am there I ask them to keep you and your family in their thoughts and prayers.

They are remembering you in their hearts forever. And even if they never met you, if one day you ask them “Remember me?” they will say Yes, I do. You provided me with a chance in life. Nanni!

Gabriele Delmonaco