Two weeks ago, September 4 at around 7:30 pm Manila time, my daughter Arianne slipped on the bathroom floor. she cried out for help and I rushed to find out what happened. Blood was dripping from her mouth, and it took me a while before I could make sense of what just happened to her. After she told me her story, I was now aware that something changed in her appearance; ( gasp!) she broke three of her permanent teeth!
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| minutes after the accident |
After the bleeding stopped, I comforted her as she cried so hard, because of the pain and the jarring shock her face took. I was disoriented, worried and at a loss as to what to do. She had classes the following day, but her gums and lips were swollen. I was also concerned that she would be bullied in school because now she looked funny, and kids can be really cruel.
I texted her teacher informing her that I would be taking Arianne to the Dentist the following day and that she would be absent. The visit was unfruitful as the dentists could not repair her teeth as the gums were still tender and swollen and that the teeth could not be moved as yet. Several antibiotics and pain relievers later, I took her to another dentist who was only able to give her prophylaxis and a treatment plan for when the injury shall have fully recovered.
Her first day back in school, I was worried that the kids would bully her. I made her wear a surgical mask and I even instructed her to never show her teeth unless it was her teacher who wanted a look-see. I was anxious as to how her day went. When she finally came home, I was so relieved that none of her classmates bullied her. She was shown kindness and concern by all. I was touched, I didn't expect the kids to be mature enough to not make fun of her. Even her friends and neighbors at home took the matter like mature people. I was so wrong to think that of kids. This generation proved me wrong again.
Four days later, I wanted to make sure she was okay with what happened to her appearance and the answer I got surprised me. She brushed my question aside, and changed the topic altogether by saying; " Ma, I want to feed the kids...." taken aback, I said what kids? who? why? She then goes on to say " the beggars, those who usually don't have slippers and beg for food , I want to feed them."
I wanted to test if she was just off-topic or serious about her ideas so I got a pen and paper and asked her questions. Two answers later, I figured she had a pretty good plan. That very night, a cause was formed. I made suggestions as to the things she would need to do, like get support from friends, funding, etc. To be perfectly honest, I felt really proud of her. I could not get past the fact that she thought less of herself and embraced other kids in her world, despite her recent mishap.
The following day, I helped her present the idea to her friends and neighbors and they immediately backed her up. Before the day ended, they have already put up a Facebook page for their campaign. I took a snapshot of the partial members of her inner circle of organizers last Saturday, September 14, shy as they were for their profile picture. Please visit and like their page here:Feed the Little Ones
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| the young people behind Feed the Little Ones aged 10-14, Arianne in pink |
They plan to feed at least 70 kids from less fortunate families in the coastal slum areas in one afternoon of fun and games on November 23rd, a Saturday, 11 weeks from now. As a campaign to raise funds, she and her inner circle of friends will be collecting and selling pet bottles and ask for donations from family and friends to raise the funds they will need. She was already able to collect PhP 300 about $7 in one week and deposited them in a bamboo piggy bank.
I suggested that maybe they can write letters to establishment owners to ask for donations of toys and loot bags and prizes. I also reminded her that this event should never put anyone in a spotlight, not politicians, not tv networks, not even her. but I secretly wished that Facebook netizens took the time to look them up and like their page. Some people could not open her page though, being the minor that she is, although I have recently tweaked her privacy settings for Feed the Little Ones to be searched by all. Please give us feedback if the link opens or not.
I accompanied her yesterday during lunch break to their school principal and one other school, as she presented her letter and asked for support from school officials to allow her to put a mini poster and piggy banks for donations in those schools as she could not open a short term savings account solely for this activity.
As per our computation, a delicious, nutritious, filling meal that kids will appreciate can be had at a cost of PhP 50/kid or around $ 1.20 to put her budget close to $100 plus prizes and loot bags. The Barangay Captain or Community Chairman has given his nod to the project and gave us permission to use the community hall on that date. All that they need is the numbers for Facebook page likes and donations.
I am not going to ask you guys for anything except to visit and like her page and maybe leave encouraging words to my little charitable girl and maybe share her page to others as well. That, will be more than a big boost to the group. I am acting as their adviser and page admin and I know that the kids will be more than delighted to see that people from other parts of the world appreciate what they are doing. So, thank you in advance.
Arianne's teeth still need a major dental work, but after she got busy with Feed the Little Ones, I told her she was even more beautiful now, than before her accident. What a beautiful soul she has, and humbled as I was to be her mom, can't be prouder of the size of her heart.
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