I sneaked one past you.Ha!Make it a double ha ha! :) I was able to jumpstart this project with the greatest team in the whole wide universe without your interference.
I know you’re there to protect me but I don’t need you right now, Fear. I will be ok- even if everything I’ve built comes crushing down before my very eyes.
I understand that I am not the project.
But I saw how deeply I can love and give because of this project.
I experienced the generosity and passion of like-minded souls who ran the race with me.
Thank you for saying yes to this Dane Raymundo, Dana Salonga, Nory San Juan, Karl Jingco, Monique Pereda, Raisa Perez, Rod Valencia, Louie Payawal,Mige Espena, Yenny Tjioe Saw, Jenn Maliwanag, Aticia Reyes, Ma’am Arlene Sarmiento, Ron Tayon, Cathy Gargaritano, Melvin Ayag, Mhel Almario, Christine Mislang, Krishna Quemado, Tricia Ricasio, Anne Casten, Joshua Siscar, Charissa Carlos, Dominic Cheoc, Christa Del Rosario, Mae Ignacio, Felix Gaco, Inee Co and Paola Policarpio.
I witnessed the growth of the students in the last 9 weeks.I am affirmed that they can do great things given the right training and opportunity.
If we just focus on their strengths and gifts, and nurture these souls with acceptance and kindness they can escape the small box society puts them in.
Three years ago, Special Achievers, an NGO for
children and youth with disability I co-founded with colleagues Dana Salonga, Dane Raymundo and Pey Abdulwahid went to San Jose Elementary School, a public
school in Rodriguez, Rizal and organized a fair for their SPED students in cooperation with Natimars Foundation.
We brought in athletes, visual artists, clay
artists, musicians and dancers in the school.
The students were allowed to try out the different arts and sports with
the supervision of their parents and SPED teachers.
* All photos by Cris Legaspi It was truly a fun-filled day!
After a month, we came back and talked to the
parents about what they think of the program and they told us how their
children’s self-confidence and independence improved as a result of the
activity.
“My son baked clay artworks in the oven during
the fair. After your activity, he would
use the oven toaster home. Eventually,
he even helped out in cooking.”, related a mom.
Given the positive response of the parents and
the enthusiasm we saw in the kids’, we promised to go back and run the
program for at least a year.
“We just need to work on our funding.”, we told
them.
However, we've never gotten around to it.
Other projects came in the way. We also got
busy with our day jobs. (At the moment, Special Achievers is a passion project
and the core team are all volunteers.)
This year marks the third year since we promised,
“We shall return”.
This promise haunts us every now and then.So, we told ourselves that we will make it
happen this year- no matter what.
Special Achievers received some funding- but not
enough for the logistics required for us to travel to far flung Rodriguez,
Rizal.So for now, we opted to run the
program in a school in the metro.
We were able to organize a great team, half of
which took a massive pay cut and half of which are volunteers- but all
committed to make the project happen.
Special Achievers brought in professionals in
dance, music, visual arts, creative theatre and chocolate making at San Antonio
National High School, a public school in Makati to train select SPED students.
SPED teachers, volunteer occupational therapists
and speech pathologists collaborate with and assist the mentors.
The parents were also consulted and given free
training for four sessions prior to the start of the program.
We have enough to run the program for 12
sessions- but we need more funding to finish the documentary so this small
program can reach the world.
We’ve stretched, negotiated, settled and
practically did everything we could to make it happen- but it’s still not
enough.
We’ve been told, "If you think you've done
everything you could, then do something more,”
And so now, we ask you, “Can you please help us
help children and youth with disability?"
