The House of Light on the Hill, affiliated to the Fraternidade – International Humanitarian Federation, has organized a recreational workshop for kids in the neighborhood of Bom Retiro, in Carmo da Cachoeira, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The event was carried out on Saturday, July 23, in the morning, in the parish communitarian hall. Almost one hundred children and youths participated, ages 3 thru 15, and about 20 adults.
‘They are children who normally spend a lot of time on the streets, without concrete activities, and because of this the House of Light on the Hill has thought of offering this activity; it is a seed that we are sowing in this neighborhood’, commented Miriam Galvão, one of the volunteers who integrated the organizing team. It is the second playful proposal carried out in the neighborhood of Bom Retiro after the one that took place last month of May, in the context of the ‘World Week of Playing’, organized by the institution Alliance for Children. The idea is to continue with this, possibly in the month of September’, completed the collaborator.
Several artisan activities were held, such as weaving; flower-making, making of bracelets, yo-yo and other toys; there was a presentation of theater with puppets; afterwards the children painted in canvas, did drawings and the youngest ones elaborated simple artisanship and games with music and various sounds. Also body works were done, such as games with ropes, with bags and with yo-yo. At the end of the meeting, those present shared a simple snack, with popcorn and juice.
‘It is an opportunity for the little ones to express themselves in a playful, healthy and creative way, in a protected environment, with people who can be references for them, without the risks of the streets’, highlighted Miriam Galvão.
‘Some children show intense gratitude and a great interest for having the possibility of doing something they consider useful such as making simple toys like the yo-yo, which is made with old newspaper, glue and color ribbons; they perceive they can play with these simple things they make themselves’, she continued.
The event had the support of the nuns of the Grace Mercy Order and of a number of volunteers.
