Being new to this service, I was quite unsure about what to expect, to my surprise the service was not only limited to taking action to solve an issue or help a group, but it also has allowed for creativity and intuition to flourish. One memory I am quite fond of was the time when we were making sock puppets for the children. I managed to figure out how to make ears out of pipe cleaners. Soon there was a line forming of children that wanted to have ears on their sock puppets too. In addition to this, I also remember the time I brought some books to the hospital for the children. Immediately there was one boy that began to read the Sinhalese translated copy of Sherlock Holmes and it felt so nice to know that the books that were bought would possibly provide these children with hours of entertainment even if we are not there.
These memories, however, are just scratching the surface of my service experience over this year of DP2. Sadly, the second semester would prove to be more difficult than those prior with regards to providing the children with a service. The hospital would no longer allow us to visit due to concerns over the COVID-19 outbreaks. We eventually resorted to focusing on the food drive and making things for the children that would be sent off to them later. We would make small DIY kits for the children with loom bands and made them some masks out of paper plates. I helped out to advertise the service food drive by pasting out and handing out flyers for the event. Overall it was relatively calm for service in the second semester and was regrettably cut short due to the curfew. Despite this, I have had an amazing year of service and enjoyed providing the cancer hospital children with company and entertainment while they get through these tough times. This service has helped me appreciate the life I have and see the value in giving to others, working collaboratively with my peers to plan sessions and communicate with the children to meet their needs and desires.