Corner Brook’s Robyn McHugh spent three weeks in California helping underprivileged children discover their “muchness.”
As an intern with Full Sail Ministries the words of Lewis Carroll from “Alice in Wonderland” came to the forefront. It wasn’t a case of losing their muchness, as much as it was not recognizing it existed.
The three-week day camp in Biola, Calif. in July was directed at disadvantaged youth in the area of Fresno County. The ministries — run by Newfoundland native Geoff Ludlow and his wife Jill — use the arts to “communicate God’s heart.”
Working with underprivileged children is not just a humanitarian effort in third world countries, McHugh told members of the Rotary Club of Corner Brook Thursday. These children — primarily of Hispanic or Latino race — are often from homes of high drug and alcohol abuse and domestic and gang violence.
The camp was oriented to create within them a sense of value and self-worth — something McHugh said was missing due to the lifestyles they lived. The children with little education learned to read and speak English, participate in crafts and other fun activities — all culminating in a final performance of “Alice in Wonderland.”
Gaining their muchness was the theme.
“Everybody is created uniquely and created for a purpose,” she said. “There are so many things you can choose to do with your life.”
Hearing about the struggles these children face and the lifestyles they lead, McHugh was apprehensive about the trip. She said most of the children had tough exteriors and put up figurative walls, but, by the end, there were many emotional connections.
“Once I got there and met these kids, even from the first day, I knew how difficult it was going to be to leave at the end,” she said.
She quickly learned that children are children, regardless of where they live and their societal status.
The team tried to show them they did not have to follow in the footsteps of their parents or the people around them, that there are career opportunities for them. She recognized a transformation over the three weeks.
McHugh also had the opportunity to utilize her skills in photography and videography while she was there. She showed Rotarians a video clip titled “Created for Muchness/To Biola With Love.”
To view the video clip follow the link below.
Weblink: http://vimeo.com/robynmchugh
