Do you sometimes wish you could do more to "Make a Difference?" Are you at a loss as to where to begin, what to do? Join me here for some inspiration and living examples of what you can do to make a difference in the lives of those around you.
On October 27 we once again helped fund raise for Children in Need, along with the charity Home-start Barnet. We contributed our face-painting and balloon modelling talents, to help raise about £200 at the Colindale Grahame Park Community Centre.
Funded by Children in Need, Home-start Barnet provides a safe place for youngsters to play every Thursday and Friday while their parents take part in courses such as first aid, healthy eating and emotional health and wellbeing.
I also volunteer for Homestart one day a week, by supporting a family with children under 5 years old.
You can view the complete article from the Barnet Times on-line newspaper here.
Recently I had the pleasure to meet up with two old friends of mine: Jenny and Gonzalo. They have a volunteer work in Ecuador, where Gonzalo is from and were here in the UK for a while to help care for Jenny's elderly mum. Now they are returning to Ecuador and we will be helping to support their work there.
In Ecuador, there are no such systems as the NHS, nor government benefit programs. So the people depend on NGOs and Charities for some of their most basic needs, especially the poor. Gonzalo and Jenny will be shipping down supplies of inspirational and educational books in Spanish, that they had been able to aquire while they were here.
Gonzalo's brother, who is a doctor, also gives of his time and expertise to the needy in his country. Here he is giving a free medical check to a handicapped patient.
Activities include a training course for other volunteers called 12 Founation Stones. Here are photos of the graduation of those finishing the course.
"Chocolatito" is the name of a program for deprived children, which often involves the apprearance of a clown!
Drawing by Nico, thanks to Children's Hospital Boston
Don't think that you have to be in an exotic country half way around the world, where the "natives" walk around barefoot in order to help and make a difference. There are so many ways to reach out to others where ever you are.
Although I have lived in third world countries with primitive conditions where I did my best to make a difference, now I live in England, where I still do my bit to make a difference in the lives that cross my path. It's not impossible!
The other day I volunteered my services as a face painter for the Fun Day party for a charity that I help with. When I arrived I was surprised at how many children were there. The organizers told me that they also were surprised at how many showed up! As soon as I was set up and ready to go, I had a queue of children wanting their faces painted so I got to work.
The event was taking place on a estate in a rough and deprived part of town and I quickly realized that probably most of these kids don't often get the chance to have their faces painted due to economical reasons and it was a real high point for them to get it done. Some of them were a bit "rough" and didn't have the best of manners. But, hey, having raised 5 boys myself, and having a lot of experience taking charge over rowdy boys in the classroom, I was enjoying their spirit and enthusiasm, even if they were shaking the table :"Hey, stop shaking the table--it feels like an earthquake!"
Two brothers who left a mark on my heart came a bit late and wouldn't leave my side, afraid to miss their turn, talking every minute. Have you ever tried to paint someone while a 7 year old is tugging at your sleeve to get your attention? Finally it was his turn and he then said, "I'll let my brother go before me, since he's younger than me". When his younger brother sat down, the older sibling said to me: "I'll help you by holding his head" and he then proceeded to clamp the head of his brother in a vice like grip. It looked so funny and it actually was a bit difficult to paint the poor little guy that way, who meekly complied. Finally it was his turn and before I knew it, I was packing up and all the kids were gone.
The other organizers were asking me if I was tired as it was none stop, but I could truly say that I wasn't. Truth was, it was an inspiration to me to be able to help in this way. It wasn't only the kids that were happy, but the parents too, many of whom would never normally be able to make their kids happy in this way. My reward was not only the resultant happiness of the children after they were transformed into a butterfly or tiger, but the interaction with them and the reminder of the innocence of children and the simplicity of spirit they possess and the easy way they express love and appreciation. This expression of innocence from them was especially touching for me knowing that many of them faced difficult challenges at home and their life ahead would not be a bed of roses!
No one handed me a pay envelope at the end of the day, but a little boy with special needs (there were several of them there) handed me an envelope with his scribbles on it, as a token of his appreciation. It was enough.
Recently we colaborated with the Hasmonean Girl's High School in North West London for a fund raising charity event. The school held a fair to raise funds for a school for children with special needs. There were different activities and along with members from other Family International Centres, we contributed face painting, balloon twisting and a children's magic show. Some of the special needs children were there also. I was priviliged to paint the face of one girl who wanted to be a tiger. She couldn't talk or point, but her carer kept pointing to the pictures and asking her if she wanted that one until she noticed a slight nod of her head. Afterwards, she had such a big grin on her face--it was very rewarding. Later on, while I was painting a boy, another special needs girl who was so interested in the paints, jumped into my lap, in order to get a closer look. She wasn't small and her carer had quite a time trying to get her off! Ha! It was a rewarding day and we were happy to help a good cause.
