Stepping into the Sunbeams School in Kot Hatyal, there was a quiet energy in the air. Our team of Sunbeam interns had been looking forward to this field visit for weeks, but as we entered the school grounds, we were met with shy glances and hesitant smiles from the children. For a moment, it felt like we were strangers in their little world. But all of that was about to change, with something as simple as thread and creativity.
We gathered the kids around and began a fun headband-making activity. At first, their tiny hands fumbled and their eyes stayed downcast. But as the colors began to come together,
reds, pinks, yellows braided into soft patterns, a kind of magic unfolded. The children began to giggle, talk, and slowly let us into their world. I found myself sitting cross-legged on the ground, braiding headbands with them as the warm sunlight danced on their beaming faces. Laughter echoed through the courtyard, soft and sweet like music.
One little girl tugged at my arm to help her fix her braid, and we ended up sharing the most wonderful laugh over how tangled it had gotten. These moments, so pure and full of light reminded me why we were here.
But it was one conversation that stayed with me most. A slightly older girl, full of spark and determination, looked at us with bright eyes and shared something truly special. She told us she dreams of continuing her education, something she never thought possible until Sunbeams School came to Kot Hatyal. She was filled with joy that she could begin her primary education here and had full hope of attending senior school next. Her excitement was contagious, and even more heartwarming was the support from her mother, who proudly stood by her daughter’s dream of a brighter future.
That day was more than a visit, it was a glimpse into lives being transformed. And in the golden sunlight, among headbands, stories, and smiles, I realized that hope doesn’t need big words or loud moments,
it often comes quietly, braided between laughter and love.
The author is an intern at Sunbeams School System and a student of Lahore Grammar School.
