Suffer the little children…

These words are from the Scriptures, beckoning people to look after children, “for theirs is the Kingdom of God.”

One initiative that invites the able-bodied to spend time and resources with chronically-ill children is the Kythe Child Program whose objective is “to provide psycho-social support that alleviates the anxiety of pediatric patients who suffer from illness such as cancer, heart condition, kidney disease, and blood disorders.”

Kythe’s executive director, child life specialist and family counselor Maria Fatima Garcia-Lorenzo (also called Girlie) relates that Kythe’s journey, begun 20 years ago, dealt with children with chronic illness. Two decades later, today, Kythe carries the same inspiration, expressed in its Child Life Program which looks after children with chronic illness in hospitals.

The program is run by child life practitioners who either have a doctorate or masteral degree in psychology and counseling, and registered social workers. But at the core of the program are the scores of volunteers who spend quality time with the children in hospitals.

Volunteers are college graduates, are fond of working with kids, excited to plan arts and crafts for hospitalized children, and able to devote one hour of one Saturday a month to them, reading to them, telling stories, singing, drawing pictures, giving them sponge baths, feeding them. Those interested to join these volunteers may email their resume to [email protected].

Each Kythe volunteer is taught the do’s and don’ts in engaging with hospitalized children under sensitive conditions. The orientation program is a prerequisite to conducting volunteer work in order to maintain a child life environment during the children’s entire hospitalization. But they must shell out P200 to support the orientation program.

After the orientation, one officially becomes a Kythebigan (Kythe volunteer). One gets the chance to be part of playroom, bedside, celebrate life, and out-of-hospital activities for Kythe children.

Among the teams of volunteers from all walks of life are the Kuthebigans, Kythe-ateneo, Teleperformance (Citizens of the World), Xavier Students Parent’s Auxillary, UST-UNICEF and UST Psychology Society, Aegis People support (Happy World Volunteer Program) and Tamaraw Volunteers.

One activity that puts volunteers and their “wards” together is the summer workshop, the latest of which was held last month at Camp Explore, Antipolo, Rizal.

The camps give the children an opportunity to get to know themselves, their illness, and enhance their relationship with children afflicted with similar illnesses. They also provide a venue for fellowship and camaraderie and give the patients a much-needed break from their daily routines in the hospital. Active participation in this camp hopefully makes them more independent, empowered and compliant to their treatment, says Girlie Lorenzo. Last month, the kids spent hours roaming among the trees and grass. Some had fun in the basketball court, others in a swimming pool, a playroom with pingpong. There was sponge, group ring and moon-ball rallies. Those able enough enjoyed zip-lining and rappelling. There was tie-dying and bracelet-making for some kids.

In addition, traditional nipa huts served as accommodation for the kids and the volunteer chaperones, and healthy, filling food is served at mealtime.

Girlie Lorenzo gives an account of the blissful experiences of some members of the Xavier School Parents’ Association otherwise called XSPA, in working with children in the care of the Child Life Program.

A loving mother of three children and a member since 2012, XSPA volunteer parent Patricia Tan was once based in the New Zealand Embassy of the Philippines, providing grants to various non-government organizations. When deeper realizations led her to believe that she wanted to serve on a personal level, Patricia eventually saw them come to light. A recruitment circular she received from her son about the school’s Volunteer Program invited parents to apply and attend an orientation.

Originally pressed for time to volunteer, Patricia found the opportunity after her resignation from work, and the call for happiness came with the gift of time. It was something, she says, that she had always wanted.

“I feel the kids help me more, more than I help them,” she shares, finding each experience both humbling and inspiring. “I want to be a better person – I am inspired to be more grateful and more giving.”

A steady volunteer for 2 ½ years at both the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and the National Children’s Hospital, Tracy Hilario began her journey toward fulfillment after looking for that special “something” to do in addition to taking care of her family.

“I find fulfillment in just seeing the smiles of the kids in NCH and PCMC,” she says, comparing it to the warmth of her family.

Arman Malabanan is the proud father of three children and an XSPA volunteer since August of 2012. Curiosity led him to attend the parent orientation, as he wanted to learn more about what happened in the Volunteer Program to the hospitals.

Nervous and not knowing what to expect during the first visit, Arman eventually established a bond with the kids, and believes in the importance of XSPA in helping the children move from their sickness to their daily joys.

Arman’s visits give him a sense of fulfillment. “Magaan sa pakiramdam (there is a lighter, uplifting feeling),” he says.

Dolores Lee, a mother who also runs her family business, has truly seen the beginnings of the program come to fruition. A volunteer for a landmark 12 years, she joined the program after Fr. Johnny Go introduced the apostolate to Xavier School. Kythe was a very new organization then, and Dolores remembered that Xavier used to require parents to volunteer at every grade level.

The requirements began at East Avenue Children’s Hospital, but after being inspired in their work, some parents helped the program gain momentum by expressing their desire to stay on. There was a clamor from more parents to volunteer, and a core group for the volunteers was established, leading to long-lasting bonds of friendship and solidarity.

Dolores saw that the parents themselves were experiencing new beginnings, as stories from the volunteers drew them closer to Kythe and living out the Child Life Program. After all, beginnings start with a certain pull. “It is the children who draw you closer to them,” says Dolores. “It is a different sense of fulfillment.”

Kythe’s Child Life Program has the financial support of organizations and companies who believe in the program. Kythe is currently embarking on research to provide evidence on the impact of Child Life Program services to pediatric patients confined in hospitals. Kythe received the People Power People Award from President Corazon Aquino in August, 2003 and its student arm, Kythe-Ateneo, received the Ten Outstanding Youth Organizations Award (TAYO) award in 2006. Kythe Inc. is now opening opportunities for organizations to be agents of change and champions of hope through the Adopt-a-Hospital campaign. Contributing will entail raising PHP300,000 to fund Kythe Child Life services in one of the Kythe-affiliated hospitals in the Philippines. The hospitals, in turn, will address the needs of the patients they serve.

The hospitals affiliated with Kythe are: AFP Medical Center (V. Luna), Batangas Medical Center, Bicol Medical Center, Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Hospital in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija; National Children’s Hospital, Perpetual Succour Hospital-Cebu Cancer Institute, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Orthopedic Center, Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Tarlac Provincial Hospital, UST Hospital (Charity ward), and Southern Philippines Medical Center.

Adopt-a-Hospital, says Girlie, is Kythe’s initiative for a partnership based on change, and this starts with fulfilling the meaning of ‘kythe’ – “healing through simple sharing and togetherness.”

E-mail: [email protected]