Sai Young Adults from the capital city of Suva, Fiji, hosted a heartwarming Fun Day for children with special needs on September 21, 2024. This event brought together children from across the Central Division of Fiji, filling the day with fun, food, and love. This year, the ‘Fun Day’ marked the revival of this decade-long annual activity that had been on a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the approval of the Department of Welfare, Fiji, which oversees social services and protective support for vulnerable populations, a total of 104 children and 36 caregivers from five special homes attended the event. The participating organizations included the Hilton Home, Harland Hostel for the Deaf, St. Christopher’s and Moana Clare Homes, Dilkusha Home, and the Fiji Society for the Blind. The SSSIO YA volunteers collaborated with others in a spirit of unity to ensure a memorable day for everyone. 
The volunteers meticulously planned a variety of games and activities tailored to the diverse abilities of the children. It included arts and crafts, face painting, musical chairs, treasure hunts, board games, balloon activities, bow and arrow games, ring toss, dominoes, bingo, and soft toys for toddlers. Care was taken to ensure that the activities were inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
The day commenced with light, healthy snacks alongside indulgent chocolate and strawberry milkshakes from a pop-up booth. This was later followed by a hearty lunch prepared by the families of the YAs and the dedicated SSSIO volunteers. The planning of every Fun Day is also a learning experience for SSSIO members to procure just the right amount of food to avoid wastage, consistent with Swami’s teaching, ‘Waste Not, Want Not.’ All the guests were provided with packaged food, fruit, milk packets, and snacks as takeaways, ensuring that everyone left with something to remember the day by.
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