Shekhar and Namita Verma
Head Start parents from 2005 till date
Parents of Sanya and Sarthak

As I sit down to write this, my mind wanders to the sunny afternoon 14 years ago when Namita and I sat across the table from Riad and Samina Aunty, trying to explain 'why Head Start'. Little Sanya of course was busy trying to put those beads in a bottle. We didn't very well know the 'WHY' back then. It's a little easier to begin answering that question now.

We didn't know that looking back after 14 years we would be so grateful that it was Head Start after all. That our kids would be cared for so tenderly and nurtured as their very own.

That we would have created a kaleidoscope of beautiful memories over the years as our first-born and then our little one attended school. Sports days. Music Festivals. Namaste India. Queues for PTMs. Filter coffee and idlis under the Banyan Tree. Waiting for that single phone call during school trips. I could go on and on. And who can forget those maddening pick-up and drops in the early years. That in meeting other parents, we will have made some friends for life, and that our own lives will be all the richer for it.

It does take a village to raise a child, and this community of ours, of educators and parents is really a special something, born of a shared love for our children. Congratulations to Samina Aunty, Riad, all the teachers and staff, who have with such passion created this labour of love over the past 35 years.

I can only imagine your delight in seeing your kids blossom into the accomplished, confident, positive young people they've become today.