This post was most recently updated on January 17th, 2018
If you’ve been following me on my social media accounts, you’re very much aware of what project I am currently promoting. There are some people who come across me and ask how I got to be in such initiative. You may not probably believe it (if that’s how you think of me haha!) but I have been involved in different charitable works ever since I was in college. I was affiliated with Franciscan Youth before and every year it was our habit to go to Missionaries of Charity Brothers. The place is a home for mostly aged-men who were abandoned by their families, so every Christmas we make sure to visit and give them gifts and food. I also participated in community development projects initiated by the school organizations to help our fellowmen in the remote areas.
And recently, I was able to commit some of my time to ATD Fourth World Philippines. It’s a nonprofit organization which primarily focuses in the extreme poverty communities in Manila.
My advocacies are primarily to act upon certain issues with environment, poverty, education, and kids. It was also one of the reasons why I joined my company’s CSR and became a part of the committee on a few projects. Given that information, I thought of something that’s in line with my travel blogging—“traveling with purpose,” as they may say. It has always been a pleasure for me to share my volunteer experiences and this time give back to the communities that I visit.
What is Color Your Life Project?
“Color Your Life” is a project that aims to promote and enhance the artistic prowess of kids in the communities our group plan to visit. It is a collective action to help the Filipino children dig into their basket of creativity by organizing individual and group art workshops. The activities provided by the team will be aligned, of course, with the cultural system that exists in the community/ies.
Our main objectives are the following:
- Have an inkling of how creative they can be at such a young age;
- Individually, with the help, guidance, and supervision of the facilitators, color an artwork template provided by the group;
- Create a collaborative art with the facilitators;
- Have a start-up art kit to be provided by the Crayons; and
- Have fun and create memories.
Traveling with Purpose in La Union
The project Color Your Life, received a warm welcome during its first event held last August 12 at the Brgy. Napaset Multi-Purpose Hall in Luna, La Union. A total of 70 children attended the 2-hour activity that is designed for them to have better appreciation of the Arts and for them to value creativity, imagination, sharing, friendship, cooperation, and teamwork.
First Activity: Color By Numbers
The first activity was coloring by numbers. We divided the large group of childen into smaller ones according to their age. The younger ones were given a much simpler picture that only required three colors. The older ones were given something a little more complicated that required more colors. For this activity, we provided used crayons that the children were to give back after. This was so they could also learn the values of recycling and sharing. We did not collect their finished artwork and let them keep it as a souvenir in the hopes that they would look back on it and remember that in art, just as in anything they want to pursue, they start with something. It may not be as nice in the beginning, but time, effort, constant practice, and dedication will lead them to where they want to be.
Second Activity: Collaborative Artwork
The second activity was a collaborative art activity. We gave each group a huge clean paper that they could draw on. Each group has one facilitator to guide them and encourage them to draw anything within their imagination. This activity gave them more freedom to express their creativity and style. We noted that those in the younger age bracket tend to be either too shy or a little too aggressive. As facilitators, we had to make sure everyone in the group get the chance to draw, color and have fun. Just as the first activity, the second one also promotes sharing and recycling.
After the two activities was the distribution of start-up art kits. Primarily, we only planned on accommodating twenty children at most, and give them each a box of crayons. But thanks to people who have been very supportive of the cause, twenty children became seventy, and a box of crayons became a start-up art kit that included not just a box of crayons, but it also had watercolors, colored pens, a coloring story book, and an eco bag. We were also able to give out snacks and candies at the end of the activities.
Watch the highlight of Color Your Life project in La Union.
Contact Us
To know more about what we do, why we do it, and what you can do to help, we will keep you posted in our official website. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coloryourlifeproject. You may contact us at 0917-3047551 (Sam) / 0917-1506002 (Louie) or email us at coloryourlifeproject@gmail.com.
Or contact me here. See you in our next adventure. Keep splashing colors, everyone!
Going Around La Union
Of course, traveling with purpose won’t be completed without this part— to travel and enjoy the place—after helping out the community. As travelers by heart, we chose La Union. Because it is one of the destinations that features fine beaches in the country, particularly in Nalvo Sur and Darigayos. La Union has a town called San Juan, “Dubbed as Surfing Capital of the Northern Philippines, San Juan, La Union is a favorite destination among surfing enthusiasts” – Pinoy Adventurista.
La Union is an extraordinary place with so much things to do. Are you looking for a place to simply relax or are you interested into certain activities; trekking and surfing? La Union is both. Tangadan Falls, Ma-Cho Temple, Bahay na Bato, are just one of the few popular landmarks here. However, we opted to stay in a private resort far from the crowd of San Juan to celebrate Louie’s 24th birthday.
Considered as a food hub of the North, La Union showcases local delicacies the province offers. Trendy cafés are everywhere. Surf Shack, Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel, El Union Coffee, Mad Monkeys added up to your La Union experience. As you can tell already, spending less than a week in La Union would be regrettable. There’s just that much to experience and cherish. With that, I am planning to visit this place again sooner.
[…] Read our first project in Brgy. Napaset in Luna, La Union here. […]