On 5 September, members of the Zonta Club of Makati Legaspi, Philippines, spent an afternoon with girls at the Laura Vicuña Foundation for a special art session. What began as an opportunity to learn painting became an afternoon of creativity, hope and new discoveries.
For many of the girls, it was their first time painting. Some were unsure at the beginning, saying they had never painted before and did not know if they could do it. With encouragement from the art teachers, they followed a demonstration step by step. By the end of the session, they had created paintings of their own and were pleasantly surprised by the results.
The beach-themed paintings prompted the girls to share dreams of visiting Boracay and traveling around the world, imagining places they hoped to visit and experiences they looked forward to having.
The visit also gave members an opportunity to learn about the foundation’s work through conversations with the sisters. Established in 1990, the Laura Vicuña Foundation supports children in need of special protection, including girls who have experienced or are at risk of abuse, trafficking and exploitation. Through its Journey of Hope program, the foundation helps children regain confidence and develop skills to build better futures.
The girls prepared special song and dance performances for the visitors, moving some members to tears. The afternoon continued with merienda, conversations and the distribution of small gifts.
The visit reflected the club’s support for Zonta International’s priority of ending violence against women and girls. Beyond protection from abuse and exploitation, the activity encouraged girls to recognize their worth, build confidence and explore opportunities to learn and grow.
Members hoped the girls would keep their paintings as reminders that they can learn new things, discover unexpected abilities and continue to dream about their futures. For the club, the visit was a simple but meaningful opportunity to connect with the girls and support the foundation’s work.
