Ahead of Friendship Day, Mumbai college students befriend kids with Down syndrome

On Wednesday evening, students of Narsee Monjee College of Commerce & Economics (NM College) celebrated the upcoming Friendship Day in advance with students of a school for the specially abled.
The new friends in these students’ lives are suffering from Down syndrome and, in order to show solidarity with them, the pupils of NM College played games, music and even showered surprises on them.
Both parties tied friendship bands on each other’s wrists and looked happy in one another’s company.

Sakshi Lahoti, a second year NM student, who spearheaded this initiative, said, “Our team often conducts activities for the kids at ‘Advitya’, but this time we decided that we should have some fun and celebrate Friendship Day in an unique manner- in the form of music, games & surprises! We started with the partner- balloon game, followed by dancing on various songs and then moved on to the most important part - tying personalised friendship bands with names to all our special friends!”

Adding to what Sakshi already expressed, Ms. Anjali Shah, founder of the NGO that takes care of these children, said, “ Today is our 18th birthday, and on the occasion of Friendship Day, our students have made friends for lifetime. NM College students have been conducting activities with us since years, but such an initiative is really touching for all of us at.The happiness on the faces of all our students today makes me feel so happy, I would like to thank NM College Principal Dr. Parag Ajagaonkar for motivating students to take up such wonderful initiatives always!”