Canaan Community Service Centre’s annual holiday get-together for children was a hive of activity for eager participants. FONG LEONG MING writes.

The little ones joining in the singing enthusiastically.

THE excited chatter of children gathered at the compound of the Canaan Community Service Centre in Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur recently was matched only by the bustling activity around them.

The centre’s staff, volunteers cooks, teachers and their assistants all stepped up their pace a bit as the clocked ticked towards the start of what was the highlight — the annual week-long holiday get-together!

For many children, it was also a reunion of sorts as they come from different kindergartens and schools and it was only during this week-long holiday “bootcamp” that they got to meet up.

It being the holidays too, many parents saw it as a beneficial way for their offspring to spend a week instead of merely letting them idle away their time in front of the television.
As children are wont to when they play wholeheartedly, smiles were everywhere, with lively, animated faces seen and heard in almost every corner, from the playground to the main worship hall.

Volunteers had earlier spent hours putting up huts and beach décor to match this year’s theme — Outrigger Island — and it was thus not unusual to see teachers donning beachwear and in Bermudas, clutching beach balls and coconuts as they went about doing some last-minute sprucing up or decoration.

Whether seven or 16 (only those in this age bracket can take part), the enthusiasm shown by every participant was evident. The children lined up dutifully when the time came to start, and they joined in the singing and dancing with gusto.

The week-long event also involved handicraft work, games, a little Bible study and preparation for a graduation concert. Some classes picked mime and dance, others put on hilarious sketches and singing.

For many of the children, it was a time to show Papa and Mama that they were brave — and how they rose to the occasion. The graduation concert at the end of the successful week-long vacation event saw little tots swaying and singing to catchy numbers on stage. The older youths too did not disappoint with their performances, and the packed hall that afternoon reverberated with applause after applause.

It might have been only a few days but from the way the children bonded in the numerous activities, firm friendships were obviously formed that week.

So when it time to say goodbye, it wasn’t a surprise that many felt a little sad. Some older children hugged each other, took photographs, exchanged numbers and made promises to each other to come again next year.

With all the lessons taught, all the games played and all the camaraderie felt, it certainly was a week well-spent for everyone involved. More importantly, the values and lessons picked up by the children and youths will stand them in good stead in the years to come.

As Rev Bernard Ang said in his opening speech to parents, how our children are guided now will see them walking the correct path in the future.

For more details on Canaan Community Service Centre, call 03-9058-5817 (Lydia Tan).