When asked what the best thing about Blue Christmas is, Sharleen Chua (IV BS MAC) says it’s happiness imparted.
“It’s an event where people from all kinds of social margins come together and smile, play, and have fun,” she says. “It’s a moment where the kids can let go of [their] problems [and] just be the [kids] that they should be.”
Blue Christmas is a special project of the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo. It aims to share the Christmas spirit to underprivileged children coming from the apostolate areas of the school’s sector-based organizations.
On November 29, 700 volunteers and 1000 children gathered in the Ateneo for a day of classes and games. Selected class hosts gave 44 classes on different subjects such as art, soccer, and storytelling in the morning. They then treated the children to a program of shows and games sponsored by the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations in the afternoon.
As the head of this year’s project, Chua is in charge of overseeing the core’s different committees. With nearly 2,000 people under her care, she says that the responsibility is great. But her early exposure to outreach programs has given her the experience to manage the event.
An only child in a Chinese family, Chua grew up to develop close bonds with her older cousins. The age difference, she says, made her mature faster than others her age. She also believes that her having no siblings was the reason why she loves being with children. “I missed that part of my life where I get to be a kid and be childish and carefree.”
Her cousins and her family made deep impressions on her while growing up, but she considers her father the strongest influence in her life. “He [taught me] that [everything I do will be worth it] if I have the heart and the belief to give what I can give and do what I can do,” she says.
It was her father who inspired her to join Blue Christmas. She recalls how he would bring her along to outreach programs when she was younger. They would also reserve lunchtime of Christmas Eve to visit an orphanage in Paco, Manila. “[Because of these trips], I grew up with the principle that we should help others, especially when we are in a comfortable situation wherein we are certainly able to help them, no matter what way.”
She started working for Blue Christmas during her sophomore year. In her first year in the project, she joined the Programs Committee in screening hosts and inviting people to join. The following year, she became head of that committee.
Before she became this year’s project head, however, she hesitated to apply. She thought that she might not be able to handle the event well. “[It] involves so many kids, so many volunteers, and so much money,” she says. But she eventually got the post after a friend urged her to try.
Her stay in the project has been rewarding. Though she acknowledges the difficulties in managing such a big event, the happiness and sense of accomplishment after a successful day was worth it. “Through the kids, you learn to love unconditionally because they love you back unconditionally,” she says.
She also considers the friendships she formed part of that fulfillment. “A successful project is really one wherein the event is a success and the bonds that you had…will transcend that of the project’s timeframe.”
The friends she gained were part of the 700 volunteers, a number she and her team didn’t expect. With the number of children increasing from 700 to 1,000 this year, they needed the help. But the response had been overwhelming; they even had to close the sign-up booth early because they had already reached their quota.
When asked what makes a good volunteer, she replies that it is all heart that matters. “People can easily be taught how to be perky with kids, how to talk with companies to get sponsorships,” she says.
“But having the heart to do what you do for a greater cause is all that matters because that heart can make you reach even greater heights. Little acts will go a long way.”
