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Some 650 children joined the sports activities and fun games
LAST JAN. 17, THE LA SALLIAN COMMUNITY welcomed 650 children with special needs for its annual event, For the Kids (FTK), a mini-Olympics held at the De La Salle University (DLSU) football field.
FTK started with only 50 participants in 1986 as an activity organized by DLSU?s Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA), the socio-civic arm of the university. For its 24th year, it aims to connect thousands of special children and La Sallians through sports and recreation, with the theme, ?Makibahagi sa paglikha ng makulay na tahanang puno ng ligaya at pagmamahal.?
FTK coordinator Khristina Umali shared that the program seeks to reach out to children who have physical, mental or developmental disabilities through sports, games and a talent show.
?In FTK, we want the children to experience the value of sportsmanship and camaraderie. More importantly, we want them to have fun and feel like winners.?
And every year, as FTK is celebrated, over 600 volunteers from the DLSU student body, faculty, staff and alumni take extra effort to make the event successful and fun. Hundreds of children from 32 SPED centers and schools in Metro Manila, including Payatas Elementary School, Aurora Elementary School, Sto. Niño SPED Center Foundation and Stepping Stone Learning Resources and Therapy Center, played fun sports like softball-throwing, standing long jump, running, marathon, relay and basketball shoot.
Joey Alino, second year computer science student and games committee head, said: ?It was really exhausting, but nothing beats the fulfillment of seeing the children enjoy themselves.?
For first-time volunteer Mark Orlina, a second year civil engineering student, ?We saw how [these] children with special conditions showed their capacity to play games like most kids, and how they found joy in it.?
In his closing speech, DLSU Vice-chancellor for La Sallian Mission and External Relations Bernie Oca shared that the La Sallian tradition is a learning experience for all participants, more so for the volunteers who reap a wealth of experience from their interaction with the children.
