Reflections from Liberia

Alexis shares her experience traveling back to Liberia- the place where the Playing To Live! program was born...

It’s been 24 hours since I have arrived back to South Africa and as I recover from jet lag and 6 days of non stop work, I feel as if the reality of Playing to Live! is hitting me in strong waves. While I was working and traveling in Liberia, my mind and heart was focused on getting as much work done in the little time I had. I visited three sites, met with our core staff, met with our program associates, met with the amazing UNICEF representative who believes in us so much, amongst many others. 

When I visited the children, it was only for a few minutes. My role is to be in the background so that the children see our Liberian staff as the representatives of our program, but even still the children greeted me with a sign that says “I love you.” I immediately locked eyes with this young boy, and he quietly said “I love you.” I knelt in front of him and through small tears, I told him I loved him as well. I felt an urgency to make him know how much my heart has been with him since we started the program and how much my heart is with him after I leave. How much work people around the world are doing to support a smile on his face and a healing in his heart. The urgency that I felt was relieved when I reminded myself that he will be reminded of how special he is through every play activity and every moment that our staff has with him. He will be reminded through the lasting effects that teaching healing arts can have.

As long as we work to support this work, the Playing to Live! children will continually be reminded of how special they are.

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