“GIVE BACK DAY” | EVERLASTING HOPE CENTER'S SECOND(2ND) ANNIVERSARY AND STEEMIANS' BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

It has been days since I haven't posted on Steemit because of my tight schedule, day by day I have been striving and adjusting since I had time on the weekend last Saturday I volunteered to participate in the said event.

Everlasting Hope Center is a center for children with cancer. They provide medical program, hospital visitation and transportation to medical appointments. They also provide activities for children, non-formal education, outreach events and feedings and more. I have heard about this center from some Steemians before but I have never visited it. So when @fernwehninja tagged me on the post on facebook about the “Give Back Day” event last Saturday, July 7th from @purpletanzanite who happened to initiate the said event in going to the place to celebrate her birthday as well as Sir @jassennessaj and to give something for the kids. We knew that it was the center's second (2nd) anniversary.

I decided to volunteer because I wanted to, ever since before I would be happy to help others. I love children and they are angels to me. We (@gratefulayn,@fernwehninja and I) decided to meet early in the afternoon so we could buy some things and some goodies for the children, the excitement that we had could not be measured because it was our first time to be there to that place and to see the children. I knew that only few were coming as I have read @purpletanzanite's post on steemit but it was okay and and we can understand some Steemians could not come because they have some appointments too. At around 1:00 in the afternoon, we headed to the center.

As we arrived at the everlasting Hope Center, many people were already there, the children with their parents, staff and some volunteers from one of the universities here in Cebu. As one of the volunteers, I know I could learn a lot of things from the people especially to the children, it gives us positive benefits too and it will always our will to help others why we want to volunteer.

While waiting to start we met people who wanted to give something for the children, we were happy that we were not the only people who wanted to give help for the children on that day but many did come in the event. Excited to meet the children and to be with them as we try some activities.

Before the activities started, children with their parents, staff of the Everlasting Hope Center, and volunteers were gathered inside the center in a big room to welcome all the people who participated the event and since the center turned two (it's their 2nd anniversary), staff were given some certificates for their hard work, guiding and assisting the children with cancer. Parents were given a chance to talk in front to introduce theirselves and their children. As I have watched them I have realized something though having this genetic disease they could manage to smile, laugh, and be happy. I am amazed by them though their chances of survival depends on the type of cancer I know that their parents did not even lose hope for their children to be better. It is an honor to be part of the event. The staff and the head of the center did make the children happy and they have given assistance not only to children but to their parents.

Art activity is a way for children of all ages to express their creativity like painting, stamping, making cards and drawing or even collages. This is also an art therapy that gives benefits and if children with cancer and their parents will participate in this activity, report says it reduces stress, anxiety, alleviation of pain, and improved well-being. For me this is actually a good exercise for them and it is fun as well as we can learn to this.

Children were needed to have some assistance in this activity so volunteers like us guided them, there were more than twenty (20) children and each of them should have a volunteer beside them to guide and assist them in the activity that they wanted to do.

The center provided some materials also for the kids in their activitie to be done. They prepared some colorful art papers, crayons, pencils, papers, paints and brushes and even beads so the children could take a pick on what they wanted to do. Before going to the center @gratefulayn, @fernwehninja and I went to downtown area to buy some goodies and stuff. We bought some foods for them and for art activities, we also bought different colors of clay for them to choose and could make something, their own creativeness in playing the clay.

When the activity started, we were having fun actually, children were very happy, you could see their smiles on their faces that they were having fun. Apart from that, volunteers were happily engaged to the children in doing their activities.

Some children were enjoying making cards, playing the clay and making something out of it, hand painting exercises too. These activities are quick and easy, it is all about having fun, experimenting, taking ideas from the children. If you may ask why art activities for the children? Why art therapy? One thing I can say is that they can teach them to express themselves, it can improve their coordination, can hone their fine motor skills and can skyrocket self-esteem. As what I have mentioned art therapy can help a lot to these children, it can reduce a lot of stress and improved over-all well being.

There was this activity, their hand painting activity which one of the volunteers, Sarah and others painted a branch of a tree on a big white canvas. As soon as they finished painting it they put it outside for the children to pat their hands on the canvas as the leaves of the tree, it is so beautiful to look at when they finished stamping the children's hands, so colorful and it shows happiness to everyone.

After some activities and some were almost done with their works, it was time to relax and had some snacks. The center provided food for the children and parents, volunteers and the staff and those kind-hearted people gave something for the center too, Sir @jassennessaj shared his blessings by giving burgers to the children. It's their way of thanking for another year and many blessings to come in the near future. @purpletanzanite and her friends (@cheft and Bernadine)were giving some stuff and raised funds too for this event.

As for me, volunteering is a wonderful way to meet new friends and the ability to talk with people and get to know more easily. I have met new people in this event, friendly and fun to be with whom you can learn and add enormous value to your mission. This event gave me a way in learning a lot of things, communicating to other people, making new friends and helping the children. It's a great honor to be part of this said event. I just hope in the near future, a lot of Steemians would get together and join some activities like this.

It was a well spent Saturday for us, we were with the children and we did give a hand to the center, I enjoyed witnessing their celebration too, way to go Everlasting Hope Center! I remember way back when I was in college, whenever there was a volunteer program I sometimes joined and until now, I still do this. I should be thankful that God gave me chances to help even just a little to people. Helping someone in need facilitates strong encouragement, it sets an example for children, friends and family. Because you grow by giving and helping, selflessness changes you in a remarkable way.

The celebration and the event of Everlasting Hope Center ended at around 5:00 in the afternoon. We went home smiling with our hearts full, full of joy thinking that those children would not forget what happened on that day, a day for them to add to their experiences. What they are experiencing right now is just a chapter in their lives, not the whole story. They are very strong and I am amazed by their strengths to fight. May God bless the center and the children!

The afternoon event at the center ended so we decided to eat dinner somewhere, we were thinking about Japanese restaurant and I insisted that we should go to “Sachi Authentic Japanese-style Restaurant”, I really loved them because they agreed to it and also we wanted to extend the celebration of our birthday celebrants over dinner, sir @jassennessaj & @purpletanzanite.

Since it's their birth month, for the longevity of life they said you need noodles on your birthday hahaha. That's what I've heard to some people, they eat noodles. But for us we were just hungry and we wanted to have some soup and eat a lot before heading to our respective homes.

This would be my second time in this restaurant and having these noodles again, they do have mouth-watering taste of the noodles and some of their Japanese dishes. For sure you will keep coming back for more. We had some noodles, nouko ramen and tantan men plus we ordered additional okonomiyaki while others ordered dish with rice. We talked over dinner and had some fun time.