If there is one thing I have learned in working with children in an evacuation camp, it is it’s a dirty work. But not in a sense of any disgusting or horrible job but in a manner that facilitating the children in Child Friendly Space means you go home untidy, with marks of colors and markers from drawing session, bad odors, and a cold or fever eventually.
The thing is, I am so much grateful to figure it out earlier than the others because it paved the way for easily building rapport between me and the children—behaving like them on the camp, not drawing any lines as long as I am helping them or simply saying, getting dirty in all ways they do.
Hello Hivers! I struggled to keep my presence in Hive for the last three days because I had a very high fever and colds that started last Sunday after my duty in the camp. It was bad weather last week and I was caught up by the rain—in return, it left me three days bed rotting, battling fever, colds, cough, and headache. Those days were a nightmare not because I felt ill but because I couldn’t get to attend the CFS sessions which I promised to be consistent with until the end.
Today, I feel better but still couldn’t attend the session because recovery needs more time, and I don’t want to force my body and have a fever again. My last session was filled with many kids, most of whom were not familiar to me because they belonged to another village.
As our days go by on the camp, the intensity of the children’s energy grows higher as well. It is actually fun to be immersed in the situation, watching kids move across all corners while making the loudest noises. Anytime you would see them in a fight, mostly young boys, and sometimes you will hear cries at the back because of many reasons but mostly due to toys.
We still had our Zumba and physical stretching, which are very vital at the very start of our program. The kids, despite their large number, had been following our instructions lightheartedly which is a good manifestation of how much patience and obedience they have gained in our sessions.
The newest DSWD facilitators also assisted us that day, and they have been trying to help in ways they can because they are still adjusting on the camp, especially in the Child-Friendly Space and our program. If on their first day they just observed us, the next day they tried their best to participate in the program, giving us heads-ups and important suggestions. They are kinder than the previous ones actually; they are more approachable and open to suggestions.
Unlike the previous ones, there are many of them in the tent who helped us, meaning the work is more efficient. The rest of our program flowed to various activities designed to promote hygiene and teamwork among children.
**STORYTELLING SESSION**
**DRAWING/COLORING SESSION**
We also initiated an activity of airplane design-making for our reflection session where kids were tasked to create an airplane from paper and design it according to their liking, which required them to scribble figures on the plane and later on explain how they came up with the design and how it reflected their feelings or emotions that day.
The other kids who are sports-inclined requested for board games and ball games, but the latter could not be done since we were in a tent and it was impossible to do so in the new environment.
So they played board games while the younger ones played with blocks and little toys.
This is the Daanbantayan team but MERCY Malaysia was no longer with them since they already left northern Cebu. The quest in San Remigio and Daanbantayan initiated by MERCY Malaysia still continues since we promised them we will complete the 14-day Child Friendly Space Initiative.
Even if the days left me exhausted, unwell, and dirty, this experience has reminded me that true service doesn’t always look neat or perfect—it comes with sweat, dirt, and yes, sickness. I found purpose in the laughter of children, and I see joy upon watching them laugh and learn. Healing might take a few more days for me as I try to recover now but my heart is already full, knowing that I’ve done something meaningful before I left last session, beyond the stains, the rain, and the fatigue.