A report from the Crèche's staff psychologist,
Ms. Mônica Cristina de Souza

History

The ARK OF LOVE began its activities at Formação XI Project on September 1st 2001, attending 12 children every Saturday from 9:00 am until 12:30 pm. The proposal was to develop concentration through yoga, musical activities, plastic arts and others. The development of the activities, the material used during the works and the payment of a cook on Saturdays is the responsibility of the Ark's volunteers.

Development
In the beginning stage of the activities, the volunteer's kept a natural posture of observation and apprenticeship, sometimes they were not able to coordinate the children, who moved around and fought all the time, provoked the volunteers and were very undisciplined. After many Saturdays, the continuity of the activities and the tremendous commitment and love of the involved volunteers, the adaptation phase could overcome and the children became more docile. So they were able to built a relation of friendship and respect, which is very important for each of them.

Much more than activities, the ARK OF LOVE Group brought respect and tenderness to the children. The group got involved with each child and truly wished to bring them a reference of what means to be a responsible adult. This is the most important benefit: the example of a just character, compromised, tender and protecting. And this is the main role of a volunteer.

Nowadays are attended from 15 to 20 children, who, during the weekdays wait with great interest for the Saturdays. They arrive joyfully and participate in the proposed activities. The children are still accustomed to this differentiated form and don't confound themselves. This is a sign of how well they are together with the group of volunteers, and of the good work they are realizing.

Another sign of the children's progress is, that during the weekday's activities they are much more concentrated, they pay more attention and the relationship among them is much better.

The work developed by ARK OF LOVE matches with the Fundação Orsa's principles, because both have the priority of promoting the children's integral development (emotional - physical/motor - social). To try, through their work, to form human beings who are able to take care of themselves, having self-respect and also respecting the city and the country were they live. One of the Ark's goal this year is to develop the children's capacity of leadership, and this is also one of our anchor, since developing this quality is fundamental to allow the children to be subjects of their own history.

Mônica Cristina de Souza
Formação XI