I never know what happens to the children after I volunteer.

While volunteering you have this

momentary euphoric feeling when you give. But then thats it. Aside from the good memories of
that experience, not once have I ever thought of the people, when I leave. Not, until recently
though.
I was assigned in communities in the far flung barangays of region 8. One cloudless weekday, I
was on my way to a meeting with the citizens of the barangay and running past me were very
excited children. With the biggest smiles on their faces, they were carrying colourful school kits,
lunch bags, water jugs etc. I searched for the source of this happy commotion and found out that
an NGO was giving out these school kits for the elementary students of the barangay. As I walked
near the elementary school, I saw the vehicles, I saw the people handing out the kits. Everything
was familiar to me. But in this scenario, I wasnt one of those handing the kits, I was one of the
people in the community. I stood there, under a guava tree, watching them. I became one of
those random, faceless observers in my peripheral view that I generally ignore when I go to
communities.
I then proceeded to the nearby barangay hall. While waiting for the meeting to start, some of
those children came in and went immediately to their parents who were part of the meeting. The
smell of sweat and sun on the children suddenly engulfed the already warm room. Breathlessly
the kids narrated in detail everything they received. Ma, naa koy Krayula Akong balunan blue
ang taklub, kay (somebodys name) kay red iyang taklub Naa na koy nutbuk nay, gihatagan
mi ug mga lapis. Daghan lapis nay!. I sat silently on one side of the room. I continued my
observation. Others immediately opened their kits started coloring. I had to teach some children
how to use colour pens or how to use stickers. For some, it was their first time to even see colour
pens. On one side of the room, I overheard a teacher talking about how one kid in her class took
another kids water jug because he wants to give it to his younger brother at home. The teacher
found it hard to explain the concept of stealing given that in the kids mind, he had the noblest
intention. Near me, a little girl placed a sticker pad carefully on the table and did not open it,
softly she said Ako ning dal-un sa balay unya para sa akong mga igsuon. I scanned the room,
everyone was actually smiling.
I caught myself smiling alone, I had a sudden realization that I never actually thought of this
the effect of simple act of giving to people who received. After we go to one place, we leave.
Sometimes, we never look back. I, for one, never did. And for the first time, I was seeing things
from their perspective and understood how much I underestimated the weight of the things
generous people do to other people. The effect of the act of giving of this NGO is spreading like a
wild fire of delightful emotions in this community. From the stories of the parents who
remembered their older children receiving school kits from years ago to the little children sharing
their crayons to their siblings, it seemed to me like this was something that will be imprinted in
their memory for quite a long time.
Few hours later when the NGO already left, their presence was still undeniably very evident.
Everywhere people were still talking, children writing, coloring and drawing, laughing. Still in
awe, I stood there. Sweat trickled down my neck, my back was soaking wet. The heat was
borderline unbearable. I probably smelled like salt and vinegar but I didnt mind. I was oblivious
to the lack of comfort; I was, in fact, quite blissful. This was something new to me... I was part of
the community, I was one of them and like them, I believe, this shall also be imprinted in my
memory for quite a long time.
#morePowerROTA #LetsTabangTheWorld :D