SANTA MONICA
CHILDREN'S VILLAGE
Our final experience during the field study was spent with the community of the children's village, a place dedicated to housing and caring for children who have faced adversity, such as being orphaned, abandoned, or abused. The village welcomes children of all ages, from toddlers to young adolescents, and is designed to be a warm, inviting space filled with bright colors, playful decorations, cute animal paintings, a playground, balloons, a bubble machine, and more. This environment created a sense of joy and comfort for the children who lived there.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted with hugs from a young girl wearing a bright pink princess dress as a Spanish sing-along song played in the background. Soon after, we unpacked crayons and paper to start drawing with the kids. At first, many were hesitant, unsure whether to join us. But after holding out sheets of paper and showing them the crayons, they slowly gathered around Madeline and me, eager to participate. This small gesture quickly broke the initial shyness, and before long, Mr. Rossi was handing out coloring pages left and right. Watching the children simply be children—laughing, smiling, and holding our hands—was incredibly heartwarming.
Once the coloring pages were filled, we were quickly led to the playground. A young girl, who was nonverbal and had difficulty walking, became my buddy on the way there. I held her hand, ensuring she was steady as we made our way to the monkey bars. Though she couldn’t verbally express her gratitude, the way she looked into my eyes and exchanged smiles spoke more than words ever could.
Santa Monica is such a special place, and I will always cherish the memories we made with its community.
SANTA MONICA
CHILDREN'S VILLAGE
Our final experience during the field study was spent with the community of the children's village, a place dedicated to housing and caring for children who have faced adversity, such as being orphaned, abandoned, or abused. The village welcomes children of all ages, from toddlers to young adolescents, and is designed to be a warm, inviting space filled with bright colors, playful decorations, cute animal paintings, a playground, balloons, a bubble machine, and more. This environment created a sense of joy and comfort for the children who lived there.
Upon our arrival, we were greeted with hugs from a young girl wearing a bright pink princess dress as a Spanish sing-along song played in the background. Soon after, we unpacked crayons and paper to start drawing with the kids. At first, many were hesitant, unsure whether to join us. But after holding out sheets of paper and showing them the crayons, they slowly gathered around Madeline and me, eager to participate. This small gesture quickly broke the initial shyness, and before long, Mr. Rossi was handing out coloring pages left and right. Watching the children simply be children—laughing, smiling, and holding our hands—was incredibly heartwarming.
Once the coloring pages were filled, we were quickly led to the playground. A young girl, who was nonverbal and had difficulty walking, became my buddy on the way there. I held her hand, ensuring she was steady as we made our way to the monkey bars. Though she couldn’t verbally express her gratitude, the way she looked into my eyes and exchanged smiles spoke more than words ever could.
Santa Monica is such a special place, and I will always cherish the memories we made with its community.
by CARSEN BINGE