Peace Garden

Like the Secret Garden, a favorite childhood book of mine, the Peace Garden is a place of child-like wonder and awe, a place for our youngest Peace4Kids kids to play with friends and explore new activities.  Each Saturday, the five to seven year olds look forward to an assortment of activities where they can cook, make different crafts, play games or read.

Each week the children have the choice to rotate between three cooking and craft activity stations with books and games in the corner, always finding something to be excited about and involved in.  By participating in the activities these kids learn not just to enjoy themselves, but they learn that they can create fun, beautiful things out of random materials, and most importantly, they learn to take pride in things they’ve made and can take home to share with others.

Tending the Peace Garden with such love, care, and dedication, Pauline Fukuwa, the teacher has been incredible in finding neat things to make or do, preparing every ingredient and craft material, and putting in such effort to make sure that everything is set for the children and volunteers.  When the children made pumpkin bread, Pauline made sure small loaves were already baked in cute ceramic loaf pans for the children to take home.  The children had the opportunity to put together their own journals with pictures and various projects inside them, and at the end of the session Pauline added a personally written letter to each child’s journal focusing on that child’s unique strengths.  As another volunteer has said, and I agree with wholeheartedly, “Pauline truly endeavors to lift the children's spirits and self-esteem.  By starting them so young and giving them confidence, this should carry with them when they graduate from Peace Garden.” 

One particularly bright memory from last session was the Peace Garden’s field trip to a pumpkin patch and then up to a park where the children played and had lunch.  Though initially I was nervous about a group of five to seven year olds being outside of our contained classroom, the day was perfect.  There were squeals of joy from the hayride, and each kid picked out his/her favorite little pumpkin.  At the park, the children marveled at the ocean view, chased after lizards, called to one another when there was a new discovery, and climbed all over the playground equipment.  They even got to go inside one of the park buildings where they stared wide-eyed at the ranger’s live snake and birds.  The excitement and fun from that day was so evident, not just because of the activities, but also because the children were so well-behaved, playing with each other, sharing their excitement with others, and including one another.

The Peace Garden children have had and continue to have difficult patches, but Peace Garden has succeeded in creating an environment in which the children have really become comfortable and have grown tremendously.  One child who unfortunately had to be sent home his first time coming due to his behavior, now plays well with the volunteers and kids, participates in the activities, gets excited about each week, and has been nothing but a good, polite kid.  Another boy who used to throw tantrums, always insisting on his own way, has also become so much more involved, smiling more, taking part in a number of the activities, and even sharing with other kids in the class.  Some of the girls who used to demand individual attention, will now play house in Peace Garden, creating a big family between the other kids and the volunteers. 

Another great story is about one of the boys who often walks in almost angry and wanting nothing to do with anyone else.  In Peace Garden though, he has gotten noticeably more comfortable, learning to trust and slowly open up and share more with others.  While he might not have intended to at first, I think he cannot help but forget about his distrust and stern expression, and now before he knows it he can be found talking with some of the volunteers and just letting himself enjoy the activities going on around him.  Getting to watch these kids, witnessing such growth, and getting to be part of the Peace Garden community has been priceless, and I can only hope that the children will take their experiences with them and build upon them wherever they go.

Please take a moment and consider making a gift to Peace4Kids. Your tax-deductible contribution will help us work closer with foster and at-risk youth, and guide their journey into adulthood. It is the only way we will be able to expand and sustain our programs.