Discovery - Orlando Children's Home visit - 3 December 2011

Saturday Morning, bright and early, saw us Discovery volunteers heading off for an exciting journey to the Orlando Children's home to spread some good cheer, tons of fun, and present giving!! Would you like to join me on a virtual trip?

Let's go!!!

In the bus and ready to ride! Meet our event coordinator, Linda! We could tell exactly how hard the bus driver was braking by how far she flew each time he did! 

Soweto - It has it's own vibe going! The houses are mostly low cost and informal but even so the residents still seem to be house proud and each one has it's own unique touch!

The outside of the home. It doesn't give away much does it? What will we find inside?

All the volunteers took as many packages of presents, sports goods and cupcakes down to the reception area as they could carry. Those bags are heavier then they look! You feel like some rippling Santa's helper by the time you reach the bottom! Check these biceps Rudolph!

Presents dropped off, we go skittering down to the field to set up everything for the kids!

We're a bit nervous. You can't wait to dive in but at the same time you worry you'll do something doff or make a kid cry or end up hogging the hoola hoops! How should we break the ice?

Why by playing with toys of course!! Once we start, it doesn't take long for the kids to cop on and happily join in, showing us how it's REALLY DONE!!

Everyone starts to meld and the awkwardness vanishes as quickly as it came!

We all discover the child inside ourselves!

And kids of all ages get stuck right in! There's nothing they're not willing to try! Too small? Says you!!

Wow! Got some moves there!! I'll try that um... later....

Then it's present time! The best part for some! What’d we get? What’d we get? Oh? Only the kids got presents? So lucky!! Can I see what you got?

In the end everyone had a wonderful time, children and adults alike, and we all went off with some new and special memories of all the little friends we'd made! Could you think of a better way to spend a few free hours on a Saturday?