KIRA tells a story to the Orphans of Little Angels Home
Last January 31, 2015, members
of the DLSU Libraries held the last of the three
scheduled Kira Tells a Story to the orphans
of the Little Angels Home in Mendez, Cavite.
Little Angels Home, Inc. (LAHI) is a joint project
by the Risen Christ Monastic Community and the Handmaids of the Risen Christ.
LAHI is licensed and accredited by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and
Development), serving abandoned, neglected, orphaned and surrendered
children from ages 0-12 years old. They are located at Bonifacio Drive Silang
Junction Tagaytay City and has an extension at Coffee County, Barangay
Panungayan Mendez, Cavite.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, LAHI's
mission is to become a leading social welfare institution in the country.They
aim to provide equal care, love and service to the abandoned and neglected
children. LAHI also serves as a model not only to religious congregations or
corporations who can afford noble service but also to families who can provide
any assistance. LAHI aims to provide utmost love, care and help breed new life
with hope to the LAHI children, thus they offer integral parental care for
children whose parents are unsustainable due to illness, death, socio economic
issues, family and societal situations detrimental to the integral development
of the children.
LAHI is currently housing 36 orphan children, from
ages 1 to 14 years old.
KIRA Tells a Story
Upon entering the lobby of the orphanage, we were
welcomed by warm hugs from two bubbly children, Shane (girl) and Jaypee (boy).
We assembled the kids in their activity area, and introduced ourselves.
The first activity was a story telling session by Candy
May Schijf where she read the Emperor’s New Clothes.
All the kids attentively listened. They were all very curious about the
story and they readily answered questions asked by Ms. Candy. After the
story telling session, the kids watched RPG Metanoia, a
locally produced animation movie. Afternoon refreshments were served to
the children while they enjoyed the movie. While the kids watched we were
able to give read-aloud sessions with the toddlers.
Looking back, this experience gave us deeper love
and understanding for the children, particularly those who are abandoned,
neglected, and orphaned. We admire their contentment and happiness of being
together. We felt their need for love, care and affection, being
surrounded by them made us realize the selfishness of the parents, especially
those two toddlers who were abandoned at birth. With this activity we
fervently hope that we gave them a reason to smile and that somehow we touched
their lives as they did ours.