There is always something different to do every week in our Youth Centre. No week is similar to the previous one: different activities, different games, different people in the workshops... I like it; it really keeps you awake and thoughtful of what is going on.
But I have to say that the best days for me are those ones when we celebrate some party or event, for the children or for everybody. The kids, but especially their instructors at the Youth Centre, have been preparing it since the beginning of the week. And sometimes, one month ago! The days before, the atmosphere you breathe is a mixture of expectation, amusement, love and happiness. And in the very same day, everyone is kind of nervous: jumping, running, preparing the last details...
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Last celebration we held was on March 18th, for Fathers' Day. Actually, this celebration is the day after (at least here in Portugal), but as it was Saturday, we move the celebration to Friday afternoon. It was also a special day for a different reason: school holidays had just started that afternoon. So we all, children, supervisors, workers and volunteers, were in a party mood.
The children had been working at their presents since long time ago. Almost since we finished with Saint Valentine's celebrations. We needed that much time, because there was a lot of things to do: drawings, crafts, photo frames... Even they wrote how much they love their daddies, and what makes them so special.
Then, on Friday morning, everything was settled up. The drawings were hanged up on the walls, creating a game where the fathers will have to find the creation of his children. We rearrange all the place, to make space for the people and the large table filled with present bags. And, of course, what would be a party without some snack to eat...
When the children came back from school, the parents started to drop by the Youth Centre. The children came running to them, smiling, holding hands with them, and showing them what they had prepared. All the kids were really proud of its creations, so their moms and dads too! Even I also was (and still be) really proud of them!
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Fathers were talking between each others, or with their children, or with us. Some of them read some of the tales we have here. Others sit down and played some games with then. Or simply took some pictures of everything...
You could feel the love during all the evening. The unconditional love the parents feel for their sons and daughters. No matter what, no matter why. Smiles, hands, kisses, playing, laughs, endearments, and big hugs... Everything made me smile, light up a little flame in my heart, and made me miss home. Yes, my heart is not made ouf of ice, although sometimes it may seem so.
It was lucky to be present in such a lovely evening, once again, here in Juventude Vila Fonche.
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