Hope for Kids Banner

For the past couple of weeks in Hope for Kids when the kids are allowed out of the ward we have been working on a banner for Hope for Kids. One of the initial difficulties is that we let someone spray paint the title “Hope for Kids” on it, along with the sun symbol, which turned out much more blurry and unprofessional looking. This was solved later on by Emilie and myself collaboratively spending an hour going over the title and sun with fabric paint. We both thought we did a pretty good job, until we saw the amazing art that the children had created. Several of the kids had done elegant flowers and butterflies, and one kid did a house with a palm tree next to it. The piece of art that impressed me the most by far was the lion Simba that a young boy called Kavinda painted. It was incredibly realistic and impressive. The next visit we had Kavinda asked us to help him because it was his mother’s birthday that day. Not only did he make a heartfelt card with pieces of folded up 3D paper, he asked each one of us to sing happy birthday to her before we left. While I am completely tone-deaf and cannot sing, as a group we did so anyway. The mother’s happiness and how she hugged Kavinda made my tone-deafness irrelevant.

Hope for Kids Update

Recently Hope for Kids has been arriving at the hospital to find that the kids can’t come out of the ward that day. While this hasn’t happened every time, it is more common now then before. While we do initially come to interact with the children, this is a good opportunity for us to help out in other ways. The past few times this has happened we have cleaned the books and the shelves they are on, organized the books by Sinhalese, Tamil, and English, as well as by picture book or text. Additionally we have organized the arts and crafts materials and areas, cleaned the general rooms, swept and mopped. While this is not initially what we intend to do when we head to the hospital, it still benefits the children, and the group and myself work together to get the cleaning finished. 

Christmas with Hope for Kids

The biggest thing that has happened in Hope for Kids in 2012 was the Christmas party we planned for them. We (the CAS) went out and got gifts and stickers for the kids, mostly Princess stickers for the girls and Ben10 and truck stickers for the boys. It was an incredibly good feeling to be able to engage in an issue of global importance such as caring for the sick, while being able to brighten up the lives of the kids who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to celebrate Christmas. We brought the gifts to the hospital, where we also began the time there that day with singing songs to (and sometimes with) a group of about 40 kids and parents assembled there, while the rest of us set up the gifts and handed out the stickers to the kids. Our collaboration showed how we accomplish several activities at once as a group while everyone felt comfortable because we understood each other’s strengths or weaknesses such as lack of comfort at singing. One of my favorite moments was when one girl handed back her Princess stickers and demanded a Ben10 sticker set. Some people tried to Gangnam style dance as well, which brought smiles to the face of several of the kids there.

About an hour into the party, Mr. Snyder showed up dressed as Santa Claus, and we began handing out gifts such as drawing supplies, small backpacks and school supplies. While some kids did seem surprised, many had huge smiles on their faces.

During the handing out of presents, several others from the group and myself began blowing up loads of balloons. The majority of the CAS group went to the wards with Mr. Snyder (still dressed as Santa), and handed out the rest of the balloons. Myself and a few others stayed behind and blew up more balloons, I stayed behind because I know a huge weakness of mine is my dislike of hospitals and my phobia of needles, so I knew I would be a hindrance if I went with the people to the ward.

The day ended with us leaving about 30 more balloons in the play room for the kids, and I felt good having been able to give the children a chance to experience Christmas.

Reflection on Goals

At the beginning of senior year I set several goals, with the aim to either accomplish or work on them throughout the year. My plan was to participate in Hope for Kids: Cancer Hospital continuously, as well as SAISA Volleyball and SAISA Track, and do outside training predominantly using the Tough Mudder Training Plan.
My goal to participate in Hope for Kids weekly has definitely been a success. I enjoy going to the hospital whether to interact with the kids or to help in other ways. This goal was strongly connected to my goal of improving collaboration with others and becoming more of a team oriented mindset. With Hope for Kids, not only have I had the opportunity to brighten kids lives, but I have been lucky to get to know other individuals from the CAS better who I might not have had the chance to in school. Over time, we have gotten to know each other better and how we fulfill our pieces within the team, leading to, perhaps unconsciously sometimes, a more unified and beneficial team.
My goal of taking leadership roles more often has not been filled to quite such an extent. As a senior, it is almost expected of me to take leadership and be responsible, not only in activities but as an individual setting an example overall. As previously mentioned, I fulfilled a leadership position to a certain extent in volleyball as one of three seniors as well as having strong volleyball skills and background. Within Hope for Kids I believe that instead of fulfilling a leadership position I set an example by interacting with the children and understanding what my strengths are and how they can benefit the CAS perhaps differently then other individuals talents.
Overall, when I made goals at the beginning of the year I was certain to make them broad in order to be applicable in a wide range of potential CAS opportunities. I have fulfilled many of the goals I have set, although most of them are ongoing goals which seek continuous fulfillment.