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.
Thanks for looking! :)
