Christmas at Taipo Special School

Just before Christmas, we took a team of professors, staff, students and family to help in a Christmas party at a special school at Pinehill, Taipo. There were about 30 kids there with various types and degrees of special needs: autistic, physical handicapped, mentally challenged, chronic health problems, etc. Many of their parents and other volunteers were also there. Together with the school’s staff and the 20+ of us from the university, there were easily a hundred people there. One of my research students was the Santa Claus.

We played games with them: passing balloons, decorating human Christmas trees, musical chairs, etc. Many of the kids were really not dexterous enough to do some of the actions such as grasping and passing the balloon. Others cannot really comprehend what they were doing and were asked to do. Many could not walk. Some could not even sit up straight. But everyone was caught in the spirit and had great fun. That was obvious from the smiles, laughs and squeals.

I could see that some of our university students were a little apprehensive in the beginning. Except for one or two who had some volunteering experiences before, most did not know how to interact with children with special needs, and were initially just standing there and watching the kids, probably not knowing how to engage them. But soon enough they started to help the kids pass the balloons, lead them through the musical chairs, showed them how to decorate themselves as Christmas trees.

After the party, one of my students thanked me for inviting her to help in the party, and said that the party made her Christmas meaningful. I was thankful to God as well, for letting me be a part of it.