Allies Imparts Valuable Lessons to Orphans

“The subject of this activity was very timely because the absence of a family does not give orphans opportunities to learn the value of things, so they take them for granted,” Allies volunteer Christina said.

“The fair helped them to see for themselves how it’s like for adults to earn money and be in charge of spending."

The fair started with a series of games, such as solving different tests and going through a rope maze, which the children needed to complete to earn coins. Meanwhile, items that were provided by Allies partners were placed on a table, and the children were told that they could use their coins to purchase anything they like.

“The children were so excited to earn money in order to buy what they liked that even when it began to rain, nobody noticed,” another Allies volunteer shared.

Allies volunteers also saw the fair as an opportunity to demonstrate a more spiritually enriching form of spending: charity. Two volunteers were tasked to portray the poor, but instructed to do so in a discreet manner. The result pleasantly surprised and touched the volunteers.

“In spite of the shopping excitement, some children came up to our poor and gave them things and encouraged them,” the volunteers said. “In the end, our children realized for themselves that it is not easy to earn money, and that even though money can buy many things, values like love and compassion cannot ever be bought.”

Grateful for the activity, a young boy named Emir praised Allies volunteers’ for their thoughtfulness and creativity.

“The games they make are always so interesting,” he said.

“I enjoyed earning money and then spending it on things I liked. But most importantly, I was happy to see my friends again!”

 

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