Day Six: Paint Stained Hands by Kylie Root

 

Today, we did the community service project. This was something that was very highly-anticipated by most everyone in the group. 

We did the service project for this organization called the Green Bamboo Children’s Center. After we learned about the work they did on day four, we understood the significance of the work we were to be doing. Our efforts on this day would be the beginnings of what would later become a room for children in an administrative building. The room would be used for classes for children in accordance with the services their administration offers. 

As soon as we got there, we got to work. The room in its organic state left a lot to be desired, but within an hour, we got almost the entire thing cleared out. The room was on the third floor, so many of us were exhausted, but we pushed through. It didn’t help that today felt like one of the hotter days, but that was perhaps due to the number of times we all went up and down those stairs. 

Once we got everything cleared out, some of us took a short water break, then we got back to work. We painted the window grates and had developed a well-oiled system between some of us where one team would go through with the initial coating, then another team would do the detailing. We got that done relatively quickly. All of us were covered near head-to-toe in paint that was extremely stubborn to get off. 

Finally, we sanded the walls and painted them with the first coat of primer. By this point, we were all absolutely exhausted, but we got the work done. By the time we had finished, we still had almost half a day to ourselves.

Once we finished, we got enough food to feed nearly a small army. I forget how many egg rolls I had but I know I inhaled them like a vacuum. I feel as though I can speak for most of the group with how absolutely starving we were afterwards. 

Although we did not get to see the entire room completed, we did a significant amount of work. Some people demolished cabinets, others moved them down the stairs, others swept, but we all contributed enough. We all had paint-stained hands by the end. 

Having even a small part in something to help make something better and increase accessibility to street children was really significant. Knowing that what we did will blossom into a room to help children in difficult circumstances meant a lot to myself, as well as many of my other colleagues. 

Once we were done, all of us took a much-needed shower and prepared for dinner after a long day of hard work.