The birthday of my friend Dynki was fast approaching when she asked me for a foundation where she can spend her 24th. As a volunteer in some outreach activities, I told her about this one place I have wanted to go to ever since my church mates talked about it. My church mates have volunteered in this foundation helping street children take a bath and feeding them afterwards. Since Dynki is very fond of kids, I suggested that she spends her birthday at this place. After giving her the contact details, everything was set and we went to He Cares Foundation, located at #9 Mines St., Project 6, Quezon City.
He Cares Foundation houses and takes care of several street children of Metro Manila. It provides their basic needs such as food, clothing, education, and medical assistance. There are kids who stay at the house, but Dynki preferred to celebrate her birthday with 25 kids who are either living in the nearby squatter areas or just living in the streets. When we got to the place, we did not expect that little kids, ranging from 4 to 9 years old, were already waiting for us. They looked so tiny and thin that 25 seemed like a small number. Dynki even whispered to me that if we only knew, we could have asked for a larger number of kids. By the kids’ looks, we really wanted to feed them to make them look bigger and healthier. But the food and the gifts that we brought were only enough for 25 children and so we set aside the idea of asking for some more children.
There was still a program being held at the recreation area when we got there. So we had to ask the 25 little kids to sit on the small benches in the porch of the house for a while. To keep them company, I suggested to Dynki that we interact and entertain the children while we were waiting. It was nice of JM and Clare, our new friends who volunteered, to talk and keep the children amused with jokes and stories. I even had to crack a corny joke, because one kid challenged me with his joke. Then, we asked the other volunteers to help us make name tags for the children.
It was past 4pm when we had the recreation area for ourselves. We introduced ourselves to Bro. Joe, the administrator of He Cares, and of course, to the kids. Then, I asked the children for someone to lead the prayer so we can start the activity. We were surprised that one kid raised his hand and recited a very long prayer in English, proficiently and without stutter. Then, it was JM and Clare’s turn for the storytelling part. Actually, Dynki asked us and her other friends to donate children’s books, because the plan was to have a storytelling session and other literacy activities for the children. And so, JM and Clare told a story entitled “Bruhaha, Bruhihi,” a story about a little girl who mistakes an old lady for an aswang. The morale of the story is to respect the elder and to avoid wrong judgment on people.
After the storytelling, the children looked hungry so we told them to sit down on the other benches to eat. Dynki’s other friends prepared the table and helped the children eat. But before eating, we sang a “Happy Birthday” song for Dynki. We were so happy to see Dynki happy that time. Then, the children started eating. We were surprised that these little kids can eat by themselves. Some kids even finished their food very fast. You can tell that they rarely eat a chicken meal and that other food that Dynki brought. And by looking at them while they eat, you will feel fortunate and thankful that you can eat three meals a day. But what is more interesting about these kids is some of them did not eat or finish their food, because they wanted to bring them home. These kids were so nice to save their food so that they can share it with their families.
After they were full, we had another storytelling session for the children. Dynki’s other friends told a story about a kid who always fool others by shouting “Sunog, Sunog!” even if it is not true. The lesson of the story was to avoid lying and being more considerate to other people. Because Dynki’s friends were so funny and animated while telling the story, the children had their hearty laughs all over the place. It was amazing seeing them laughing their hearts out.
They looked even happier when we prepared games for them. Dynki asked them to group themselves into pairs or groups and to perform their talent in front of the “judges.” We were amazed, because the kids were so bibo and talented. One pair left us in awe when they gyrated and did stunts like split and cartwheel. Obviously, they were the ones who won.
Then, we had the gift giving. Dynki and her other friends were so generous to prepare and give a big box full of goodies and educational materials. The children went home happy, because they received these early Christmas gifts. It was nice that the activity ended with a lot of smiles and thank you from the kids. My heart even melted when a little girl came back to embrace me and Dynki and to say thank you for what we did that day. Because of this, I told Bro. Joe that he might see us again to volunteer for their other outreach activities. Hats off to him and to all the volunteers and sponsors that support He Cares Foundation! True to its name, the foundation really cares.
For donations, please contact:
He Cares Foundation
#9 Mines St., Project 6, Quezon City
Tel. No. (632) 928-8910 or 453-0100(call 1:00 – 5:00 pm)
Cel. No. 0916-6115431 or 0922-8535851
e-mail: hecaresfoundation@gmail.com
Contact Person: Bro. Joe Dean or Ardis Sola
