At the beginning of 2023, the Occupational Therapy division of DCH started a project where we put together boxes with educational, therapeutic and playtime resources for our preschool children. The boxes that were put together with a lot of toil and sweat, with the help of donations and wonderful businesses that supported us, finally went out to the houses.
Because the initial intention was for the preschoolers to have something to do when all the others had to do homework, I stopped by one of the houses. To my surprise, I come across a completely unexpected picture! The teenagers from one of the girls’ houses are busy playing with the clay, while the primary school girls in the house lie together on the carpet, building puzzles. The preschoolers have a great time playing with the toys and discovering the big ‘lucky packet’. Where fighting and conflict are part of any household, something like toys and fun brings everyone together in moments of peace and enjoyment. No child is ever too old to play or to discover- this is a child’s profession and should be granted to them.
To me It was a testimony of what we at DCH are trying to “get right”: that every child here will feel safe to grow, learn, discover, play and just to be themselves within their environment.
Such moments shape our children. That is special.