The Steem Powered Awesome SMILE Project Brought Street Kids Happiness!

"Dili lang nako kaonon akoa te, ako dad on para nila mama."

"I won't eat my share, I'll just bring it out for my mother and father."

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The Awesome SMILE Project initiated by @indayclara was definitely a success even after the schedule change from the original timing set to a shorter one of only 12:30 PM plus the rain which halted some volunteers to arrive early and caused the children to get wet.

Street children were the primary beneficiaries of this project but more importantly, it also had reminded us of the simple things that we should be thankful for. I personally learned a lot of life lessons that day as well as got reminded about thankfulness and enjoyment, all from the kids who have lived their lives from the busy and polluted streets of Cebu City.

What could be in this kid's mind while he's looking at the mother holding her baby?

This is Lyka, she's a sweet left-handed young girl.

This kid looked at Shiela and Kim talking.

Look who's very good with babies!

These kids had been coming to Luis Amigo Ladies Dormitory every day where the nuns bath, clean, dress furthermore feed them as well as teach them art and tell them stories about Jesus.

I could see from the kids' eyes the security and happiness when they are in this place. The way how they look and hug the sisters is a result of love and compassion. They find caress, kindness, and affection within this four-cornered room.

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The program started off with a prayer and thanksgiving for the opportunity granted to us the Cebu Steemians who had gathered and volunteered for this project as well as thank the brain behind the initiative and all those who did their part to make this possible, the organizers, the workers who bought all the needed elements and most importantly, to the donors who had given their financial and moral support to make this successful. You are all a blessing to these children. The heavens will give a hundred folds back to such wondrous act of love.

Some volunteers preparing the name tags for the kids.

James (@panoramicview) and mine's name tags.

The event was comprised of more than 40 kids with a month old baby as the youngest who were brought to the location because the mom was watching over the older siblings, 23 volunteers and four nuns who were overseeing the event.

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ART PROGRAM

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The first activity was coloring.

Crayons must be present!.

Some other materials at the event.

Kids were all behaved when they were presented with coloring sheets, there were crayons and other art materials available for them to start filling out. The art committee joined together with the rest of the other volunteers were all hands on in helping and guiding the kids on which color to select, and which portion to fill out.

Christian (in blue shirt) is a teacher and he's very good with kids too!

Shane writing her name on the coloring sheet.

Some of the boys enjoyed getting their photos taken!

That's Lyka also enjoying the activity, she was really serious about finishing her piece.

This kid was laughing at his own finished piece because he filled it all with blue. Silly kid!

It took them time to finish their artworks. Most kids aged four and below were aided by some of their moms too. They easily get distracted so they require more supervision and guidance.

Specific individuals were given rewards for a job well done with their coloring pieces as well as with the other art activities.

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BASKETBALL MATCH

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Energetic and basketball enthusiastic Steemians headed by @jassennessaj grouped the kids to play and compete against each other. It was a friendly game for the kids to be more engaged with the volunteers.

Although the area isn't that huge, there's only one basketball ring plus the rest of the area was occupied by the rest of the joiners and the kids who were doing art activities as well as some open-air spots where rain was pouring in. Imagine how narrow the basketball area left for the players but that didn't stop them from enjoying the game.

If you are not yet aware, basketball is like the god of sports here in the Philippines. Almost all males, young or adult, short or tall, big or small would want to play, dribble and shoot that basketball. That even if there's a typhoon or natural disasters, you'll find guys playing with no shoes or shirts on!

So the children and the volunteers were already sweaty after playing their hearts out, good thing there's free water inside!

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COMPETITIVE GAMES

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Children love contests and competitions so the games were arranged in exchange for some cool prizes!

During the paper dance game.

Jobell stacking the cups.

Kids had fun in this game. Look at how they laughed.

The first game was the paper dance which I joined together with Jobell, unfortunately, we didn't win but she was so kind to give me a high five even if she didn't get a prize. Such a sport!

Then came the next game where we have to dance and stack cups. Three groups composed of four kids plus a volunteer. I joined the team with KC, Shane, Niña, and Ejay. That was when I got a little close to Ejay who was really a sweet guy, he would hug me and smile.

Me with Edsel who was really sweet!

Shane and KC are sisters!

Again, we lost in this game but nonetheless enjoyed it. The third one and the last was a group game again where boys had to pass a cup to their mates with the use of a straw! It was exciting to watch as all the kids were competitively serious about their performance. The team led by @jassennessaj won the game.

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LUNCH TIME

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It was already 30 minutes past eleven when the games ended. It was time for lunch, so all the kids were seated at the tables with their corresponding chairs. The volunteers distributed the packed food for them to eat in together with all the rest of the children.

There were children who need assistance so other volunteers had to do what was needful. I personally tried to do my part with feeding Jennifer, Em-em and the other kids. That's when Ejay told me not to open his own food but instead, he'll be bringing it out.

One of he sisters came to our table and encouraged the kids to eat. She also shared that every single day when these kids come, they would give them snacks and a packed meal for them to bring out. So they are used to bringing their food to their families but when events like such happen, they want the kids to eat inside so she turned to Ejay and told him he can share Jennifer's (Ejay's younger sister) so he can bring his own meal outside. That's when he started eating. I can sense that he really wanted to eat but was thinking about his parents and perhaps his other siblings too!

After helping them eat, I went ahead and had my lunch too! I am grateful to all those who had prepared the meals, the volunteers who brought food and snacks and those who all worked to ensure that the kids will each have their meals.

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GIFT GIVING

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The final part of the event was the gift giving which composed of three parts:

• new slippers
• garments
• groceries

All kids were really happy to have received a new pair of slippers. I have seen some of them were not even wearing any footwear upon arrival so they were all smiles when they got their new ones. Some had also kept their new pairs inside the lockers as reserved since they still got a functional one.

The slippers were also formed into the word SMILE before they were given to the kids. Of course, they had to fit the new slippers before keeping them to ensure they are of their sizes.

The garment sets were underwears, upper shirts, and lower shorts as well as dresses. Each kid received a lot of garments and I am pretty sure they'll find value on those items of clothing.

Packed food supplies like canned goods and some kilos of rice were given as well, this is to help them with what they needed in terms of food in the following days.

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The Awesome Project SMILE wouldn't be successful without these awesome people:

@indayclara | @ybanezkim26 | @smaeunabs | @kayegrasya | @junebride | @morken | @thian2817 | @liamnov | @gratefulayn | @iamqueenLeVita | @chuuuckie | @josephace135 | @jason04 | @christianyocte | @JassennessaJ | @calvinweigel14 | @steembytes | @ryancalaunan | @juichi | @panoramicview | @carlitojoshua | carlito’s friends:
meia, rose and jasmine

And the donors:

• A Dollar A Day project by @pennsif, @aggroed, @cryptocurator, @gmuxx, @goldendawne, @mother2chicks, @nikolina, @redrica, & @steemcommunity witness for the 15 SBD donation
• @youarehope for the 150 SBD contributions donation
• @tarekadam for the 50 STEEM donation
• To the following as well:
  @christianyocte, @smaeunabs, @ybanezkim26, @jassennessaj, @morken, @adeline24, @chuuuckie, @jbeguna04, @iamqueenlevita, @immarojas, @chameh, @josephace135, @themanualbot, @surpassinggoogle and @yehey

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The smiles, grins, and laughter, hugs, embraces, touches, and kisses from all these street children already made each of the volunteers' day and for sure this event is not just the first of its kind. More will come in the future.

Saying Thank You to all those who donated is an understatement because you have done more than just donating, you had just made numerous children happy and that kind of act has already given them hope that in there is still goodness in this harsh world.

They say when you sow a single act of goodness, you'll reap the same. I say when you give smiles, you'll receive thousands back.

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@JUNEBRIDE

"Joy comes when we don't give up on Love." - Tony Meloto

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