“Wrapping up the Year” Children’s Club Event

Anticipation is laced into the air and into the tinsel that shoots of flickers of light like sudden lightning bolts. The children file in, glancing curiously at the various arts and crafts that have been distributed, bringing their contribution fee and signing in their names, barely able to contain their excitement. The children continue to come in a steady flow until the entire patio is filled with the chatter of young and carefree minds, a total of 63 children, ready for a day of fun and relaxation. The contributions of the children covered more than half of the expenses of the event, helping to develop a feeling of ownership and pride from the children of Profugo’s Children’s Club.

 We launch immediately into the first activity, having the children decorate the various cutouts to turn them into original Christmas ornaments. The children gleefully tear into the packets of glitter and buttons, passing around the supplies with good-nature, biting lips in concentration and displaying their finished products with pride to their friends and the field fellows.

 In transition into the second activity, the children play “Where the Wind Blows”, this quaint icebreaker revealing new information about the children to themselves and their peers. They then proceed to produce rousing renditions of popular holiday songs, following the karaoke screen and laughing at their off-beat moments, finishing strong with the choruses. Then the mood turns quiet and reflective as field fellow Tyler Casteel orates “A Christmas Story”, the children intently listening to the antics of St. Nick and sharing their thoughts. We arrive to the grand finale: The Parle-G House-building Contest.

 The children divide into groups of about 8 and devour the challenge of creating masterpieces out of the biscuits, icing and toppings that were distributed. They become thoughtful, a beautiful contrast of childish fun and serious creativity, sporting good-natured competitive spirits and working down to the wire. Two students from the Government College of Engineering, who graciously helped us throughout the event, along with Tyler, proceed to judge the houses, asking for descriptions of the thought-processes of these young architects, allowing room for expression of individual inspirations. As soon as the results are announced, joyful chaos ensues as the children consume their homes with unabated joy, offering pieces to all their peers and catching them and us off-guard with dollops of cream.

Everyone dissolves into laughter and go home having glimpsed the holiday spirit at the Profugo House. We were able to harness the simple joys of the holidays and provide the children with insights into our celebrations. All of the field fellows, and our guests were instrumental in“wrapping up the year” with joy and beauty!