Welcome my dearest gentle readers to another episode of my blog. Today, I am thrilled to share the heartwarming activity we recently did for the wonderful children under our care at the shelter. The joy of spending time with these young souls is truly unparalleled, and I am excited to provide you with a glimpse into the fun experiences we shared together.
As part of our comprehensive approach to addressing their traumas and emotional well-being, we place a strong emphasis on equipping individuals with valuable life skills for their future. Among the various programs we provide for all our clients, particularly the children in our care, the LIVELYHOOD PROGRAM stands out as a special component. Drawing parallels to the DepEd's Technology Livelihood Education (TLE) program, the LIVELYHOOD PROGRAM aims to empower children by imparting practical skills that can be used in everyday life or potentially developed into a business venture.
Through this program, we offer various activities like cooking classes that not only nurture culinary talents but also instill a sense of independence and resourcefulness, sewing, painting, gardening, and many more. By merging the therapeutic aspects of healing with tangible skills development, we pave the way for a brighter and more self-sufficient future for these children.
Every Saturday, the shelter's co-founder organizes different activities and simple lessons for the children. Since she was in the US right now together with his husband and the founder of the shelter, she left us the activity that needs to be done. Unfortunately, the house parent responsible for the activity took a vacation as she had a prior personal engagement and I was assigned to lead the session with the children, teaching them how to bake cakes and cupcakes. Despite having premixed ingredients available, I still encouraged them to follow a simple recipe from start to finish, resulting in a delicious and cost-effective treat.
With 20 children under our care, 12 in the first house and 8 in the second house, it is essential to prepare and assign tasks meticulously to prevent confusion and have a harmonious plan yet enjoyable experience for the children. The younger ones are responsible for tasks such as spreading lard and placing paper cups in cupcake pans, while the older children handle the preparation of materials like bowls, spatulas for mixing, whisks, measuring cups, measuring spoons, and ingredients such as eggs, premixed flour, oil, baking soda, baking powder, all-purpose flour, cocoa, and water.
The remaining children will alternate between adding ingredients and mixing the batter. Additionally, some teenagers have been tasked with baking a cake, a process through which I am teaching them to use basic ingredients effectively to ensure that everyone will be involved in the said activity.
During the activity, chaos ensued as the younger children wanted to try what the older ones were doing, and some of the older children were uninterested in helping the group. I felt frustrated and wanted to shout at them to keep still, but I realized that some might be triggered or lose interest in the activity. Instead of shouting, I decided to allow them to take turns so that everyone could have a chance to experience it.
The activity started with a sense of anticipation as everyone found their designated roles and tasks. Though there was a hint of disorder in the beginning, the children swiftly immersed themselves in the activity, displaying focus and enthusiasm. Each child eagerly took turns putting ingredients and blending the various ingredients, creating a harmonious collaborative effort.
Following forty minutes of eager waiting for the cupcakes to bake and cool, I make a start to showcase the process of making icing. The children's eyes lit up with delight as they learned that they were able to put the icing on top of their freshly baked cupcakes with the colorful, sugary topping.
Their faces beamed with joy and wonder, conveying a sense of pure happiness that they were also able to decorate their own cupcakes and discover as they embarked on their very first experience of firsthand icing creation. The genuine curiosity and enthusiasm that radiated from the children at that moment deeply touched me, reminding me of the simple yet profound joys that come from learning new things. They were all happy decorating the cupcakes and ate them afterward.
Through the activity, my eyes were opened even wider to the children we sheltered. It was clear that they were very innocent of many simple things that they had never experienced in the outside world. I hope that this experience of mine will inspire everyone to always be grateful and have an attitude of gratitude for all that we have, no matter how modest or seemingly insignificant it will be.
Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog.
