There were sunny smiles on the faces of the 50 children and 60 young adults who gathered for the first Big for The Day event organised by the Beauty in Essence organisation recently.
The event was organised to provide a fun and learning opportunity for the kids from selected homes and communities in south Trinidad. The occasion was a special day out with their mentors as they paired off and spent the day sharing experiences.
The children came from several homes in the community including El Shaddai Home for children in Gasparillo, the Operation Smile Home in Whiteland, south Trinidad, and through the assistance of the Family Crisis centre in Marabella. They ranged in age from seven to 13 years old.
The group gathered at the Whiteland Eco Resort in Williamsville at 10.30 am for a full day of activities and fun. Beginning with prayer and briefing, before they ventured out for a 20-minute walk along a nature trail, with their big brother or sister for the day.
The children were treated with toys and other gifts by their mentors. Big sisters and big brothers were encouraged to use positive affirmations when speaking to the little ones throughout the day. The organisers met their objective of the day as they had much fun and laughter for the excited children who enjoyed the trip to the outdoors.
President of the Beauty in Essence organisation Nadi�ge Honor� stated, "The event was a success. The kids were great and it was a fulfilling experience for the big brothers and sisters for the day. To see how they bonded and had fun together was an encouraging sight."
Honor� is a guidance officer with the Ministry of Education. She was assisted by Jamie Alleyne, a final year business student, from the School of Business and Computer Science. Also giving support was Talitha McSween, a kindergarten teacher and Shenelle Alexander who joined the other professionals from the group to make it all happen.
Among the mentors for the day were young lawyers, teachers, bank workers, doctors, a police officer and several university and high school students. One participant, Shurdelle Jennings, described the experience as "exciting." She added, "it was truly an experience I'd never forget. It is really an amazing thing to just give and expect nothing in return. It was a real cool experience to responsibly share your time with a child, and watching their eyes widen with the excitement of discovery."
The children proudly wore T-Shirts with the words Little Sister or Little Brother which were presented to them on their arrival. They were treated to lunch and snacks during the day. In addition, they toured the facilities viewing the snakes, birds, rabbits and especially–Blades the horse–at the resort.
Other activities included art and crafts, scavenger hunt, photo sessions and a nature hunt.
Much needed sponsorship for the event was graciously provided by Guardian Life, Chaguanas branch, Maritime Financial Group, with contributions by Cocoyea Supermarket Ltd, IAL Engineering, TOSL Engineering and from other parties.
The Beauty in Essence organisation has continued to provide mentorship to young girls through interactions and arrangements of special activities like the Big For a Day event. For the many young children in need of a mentor or some form of guidance, the organisation and its members remain committed to the task.
The group plans to make the event an annual affair and encourages young adults who are looking for an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the lives of young people to contact them on their Facebook page or e-mail them at beautyinessence@gmail.com for more information.