Christmas of love at Drama’s Male Childcare Centre
Christmas time conveys a special emotional load .It is the time when hearts soften, when the need to give grows stronger and when lovefinds its way even to the most difficult destination.
On December 23rd, just before Christmas, we had the honour and joy to visit Drama’s Minor MalesCentre. Representing TERIREM AMKE, I as the President, along with four wonderful volunteers, found ourselves in a place that hosts 16 boys, children whom life has forced to grow up ahead of their age.
We were warmly welcomed by the Centre’s Director Mrs. EleftheriaPanagiotidou.From the very first moment, before we even uttered a word, we came to realize a lot. The way the children looked at her, spoke to her and stood next to her revealed that for them she is not just the director of the institution. She is something much more important. She is their harbour, their hug, the mother they may never have had.
We offered the children presents and handmade Christmas treats. Small offerings, nothing remarkable through the eyes of the ‘outside’ world. And yet to them they meant a lot. Much more than we had imagined.
We sat, welistened, we learnt.MrsPanagiotidou spoke to us about the difficult daily reality of the Centre, about the struggle that the whole staff gives on a daily basis. She talked to us about children who have been raised in inappropriate family environments. Familiar stories, painful stories –stories that one unfortunately hears when talking about neglected children who end up in institutions.
And then we met some of the children.
Panayiotis, a self-taught guitarist who loves music and singing, with a sweet smile and sparkling eyes, full of life, strength and passion. He sang for us, played his guitar and for a few moments time froze. How deeply we were touched…
Then Thomas, the quietest child, with a penetrating kind look rendering words useless. He hugged each one of us to thank us and wish us a Merry Christmas.
Little George followed, the youngest of all, an innocent child, with a look that simply asked to be seen, heard and recognized.
Yasak, with his modern hairstyle, his trendy clothes and that shy, almost hesitant smile –as if he had never learnt what it means to smile. We took pictures, sang, laughed and were deeply moved. Above all, however, we experienced joy. The kind that is genuine,pure,almost overwhelming because the children were happy, not only for the gifts but because we had gone to meet them .To devote time to them, to look at them in the eyes.
At that moment, a phrase spontaneously occurred to me “Whenyour little, becomes everything to someone else…”
Our joy was great, our emotions even greater. We didn’t want to leave. We didn’t want these intense moments to end. As we left, we carried bittersweet emotions within us. Joy for the meeting, sadness for those kids’ life paths and gratitude for everything they taught us in just a few hours.
This visit was not just a Christmas actiion. It was a reminder. This offering cannot be measured by the cost of the gifts but by presence, care and love.
At TERIREM AMKE, we continue to believe that no child should be raised invisible. And as long as there are children who need us, we will be there-with whatever we can offer, any means we have but with a big, open, warm heart.
Merry Christmas
With love, faith and hope..
Georgia Ouroumi
President – TERIREM AMKE
