HOPE FOR KIDS – Puppet Making, Bracelet Making and Cultural Show

Visiting the Cancer Hospital

For the 2^nd Semester of 11^th grade, I chose to join Hope for Kids. Hope for Kids is a Service group that aims to help the kids from the Cancer Hospital. We focus on improving the mental health of the kids, which will give them the strength and determination that will help them mentally deal with the course of cancer. We arrange meetings to go meet them every week for an hour and engage with various activities with them such as puppet making, loom band making, and hosting cultural events for them.

The National Institute of Mental Health states that ‘If you develop depression after learning you have cancer—or were depressed before your diagnosis—your depression may affect the course of your cancer as well as your ability to take part in treatment.’

"Depression and Cancer." National Institute of Mental Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2015. 

    <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-and-cancer/index.shtml>.

Puppet Making 19^th February

We arranged materials such as new pairs of socks, eye stickers, yarn and scrap pieces of cloth to create sock puppets. As we reached the cancer centre, we saw that the kids were extremely excited to start the activity. We divided ourselves amongst the children and helped them create the puppet. Due to the language barrier it was difficult communicating with the kids as they spoke Sinhalese and Tamil and I didn’t know either of the languages. However I was still able to help them make the puppets showing them simultaneously with a demonstration.  This was my first meeting with the kids, and it made me realise how even the tiniest hope of happiness can help the kids to mentally fight with effects of cancer.

(Pictures taken by Jack from DP2)

Loomband Making – 26^th February

This was one of my most favorite meeting with the kids from the cancer hospital. We made bracelets and necklaces with them using rubber bands called ‘loombands’.  I spent most of my time with one patient from the hospital. She was very enthusiastic about creating the bracelets, and she was a quick learner. This was extremely pleasing to see.  We interacted with the kids about their preference of colours and which colours were their favourites. We saw the kids create many different variations by themselves. It was great to see a smile on their faces.

(taken by me)

Cultural Event – 18^th March

This was one of our main events of the year. We hosted a show for the cancer patients. We performed along with the junior choir . The younger kids from school very enthusiastic and put up solo performances in different forms of dancing such as a Sports dance, Hula-hoop dancing, Arabic Dancing and a magic show. The senior students, which included me, were in charge of taking care of the little kids and making sure they were safely seated. At then end we put up a performance and sang a song for everyone. This was a last minute decision inspired by seeing the little kids perform. Although I couldn’t sing, I joined in and clapped along with the singers.

Learning Outcomes-

1. Increased their awareness of their strengths and areas for growth. – Hope for kids increasing my awareness about cancer and how the psychological state of a person can affect the course of the treatment.
2. Undertaken new challenges. – Challenges in communication due to the language barrier and being emotionally strong as many of the patients we interact with are terminal patients.
3. Planned and initiated activities. – Planning activities for the kids that will give us a chance to interact and connect with them.
4. Worked collaboratively with others. – Working as a service group together to host and take forward the planned activities.
5. Shown perseverance and commitment in their activities. – Making an effort to engage with the students, as well as committing to going to the cancer hospital every week.
6. Engaged with issues of global importance. – We deal with the increasing problem of cancer and how to help patients to maintain a positive outlook towards life.
7. Considered the ethical implications of their actions. – As we go to a cancer hospital, we need to ensure that we don’t make noise and wear appropriate clothing. We also need to control our behavior and emotions in front of the students. This is because it often happens that when we someone sad, we tend to become sad as well.
8. Developed new skills. – In this service I am developing new skills of communication, and how to emotionally control ourselves in order to help the patients be happier.