It was a monumental farewell for everyone ! An outsider of the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) who have stayed barely three weeks with the children, has left a mark in the hearts of the kids and even from among the staff of this child-caring facility of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Eight.

“He said goodbye by kissing each and every child. No other person, even a volunteer like him, has ever done such all throughout the history of the RSCC,” Center Head, Nida Jusay, revealed.

Jusay was referring to the 19-year old Samuel Cortis of the United Kingdom who came to the Philippines as a volunteer through the Volunteer for the Visayans, Inc. (VFVI). The VFVI is a non-government organization and a partner of the DSWD in its Bayanihang Bayan National Volunteer Program, deploying foreign volunteers to serve in the latter’s centers and institutions.

The Center Head was touched by the gentleman’s ways that bespeak of his passion for children and most of all, sincerity to work with them. He was described as a kindhearted soul from among the houseparents, nurse, and social workers of the Center.

Nurse Irene Gandeza bared that Samuel was very helpful, even from the changing of the diapers to escorting her to the nearby Leyte Provincial Hospital in Candahug in Palo town of Leyte province, or to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City.

The British lad, who rendered voluntary service at the RSCC last May 4 to 23 of this year, worked his way to be able to come to the country by employing himself at a national retailer and then as a waiter at a golf club.

Samuel’s profile reflected his early desire at volunteering. It stated that “while at school on a Wednesday afternoon, I volunteered as a teacher’s assistant for six months, helping a year five class at All Saints Primary School in Wellingborough. I built up a good rapport with the children and teacher, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

The Center Head further commented that she was amused at how he involved himself with the activities inside the institution, which is a receiving home for abandoned, neglected, orphaned, abused, and surrendered children, aged six years old and below. Jusay reported he had lots of interaction with the kids, making use of stimulating activities as well as feeding them.

“It is a joy seeing him doing the job with pleasure,” Jusay stated.

The RSCC has 34 children temporarily staying at the center – ten are infants, two are toddlers, and twenty-two are in preparatory school.

Said Regional Director Leticia Diokno (formerly Leticia Corillo), anyone (be it an individual or group) can render voluntary service with the Department, in the implementation of social welfare and development programs. “Be a part of our growing number of volunteers !, “ she said.

Interested may register online via the DSWD’s Online Registry of Volunteers at DSWD website, www.dswd.gov.ph and click the icon on Bayanihang Bayan Program to fill-up the DSWD Volunteer Registration Form (VRF).