For-the-Kids 2012: A Mini-Olympics for Special Children

This is my second time to join and document this. Here's my last year's blog entry.

For The Kids

For-the-Kids (FTK) is a mini-Olympics for special children organized by the Center for Social Concern and Action (COSCA) of De La Salle University (DLSU-Manila) through its Volunteer Formation Program's volunteer group Lasallian Outreach and Volunteer Effort (L.O.V.E.). With the theme, "Hawak Kamay Para sa Masaya at Makabuluhang Paglalakbay", FTK12 is scheduled on the 15th of January 2012. It aims to help children with physical, emotional and mental difficulties to achieve self-worth through competitive and friendly sports and interactive games. It also seeks to provide an enjoyable form of social outreach for DLSU students, alumni, faculty and staff.

For-the-Kids began in the summer of 1984 when the Physical Education Department and COSCA invited thirty (30) Deaf children to participate in an informal mini-Olympics in De La Salle University. Two years later, La Salle Greenhills organized a similar event under the name "DLSU Special Olympics." It was sponsored both by COSCA and the Rotary Club of Greenhills. Fifty (50) Deaf children participated. In the summer of 1988, COSCA through its Special Children Cell volunteers took charge of the Special Olympics. Some 200 special children and volunteers were involved in different sporting event held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. However, after 1988, the DLSU Special Olympics was temporarily stopped for a few years, though activities with the special children continued, particularly the summer workshop.

In 1993, the event was revived. The fourth DLSU Special Olympics commenced on February 1994. Two hundred eighty three (283) children and volunteers participated in the revival of the games held in DLSU grounds. However, the February 1995 games under the stewardship of Br. Bernie Oca, FSC proved to be the biggest since FTK started. Four hundred fifty (450) special children from different centers took part in the activity. In 1996, the DLSU Special Olympics was renamed, For-the-Kids. The significance of the 1996 games lies in the fact that For-the-Kids involved not only Deaf participants, but also other physically and mentally challenged children.

For this year, For-the-Kids 2012 will be participated by 650 special kids with Autism (AU), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Mentally Retarded (MR), Blind(B), Down Syndrome(DS) and Deaf(D). Around 1000 students and faculty from the Lasallian community volunteered to take part in this event by being an Ate/Kuya or assisting the kids in the games. Around 400 parents/guardians and SPED teachers from 35 centers in Metro Manila will also oversee the kids on this day.