What does a day of magic and wonder look like for children living with serious illnesses? Children whose outings often consist of hospital visits and their playgrounds the corridors of hospitals.
Imagine the smiles lighting up the children’s faces as they step into Fanpekka playground at AEON Mall Jakarta Garden City, a place where dreams come alive. These Rachel House children (aged 2-16) who usually spend their days at home while waiting for their next hospital visits, suddenly found themselves in a new world filled with laughter, adventure, and pure joy. This is the essence of One Fine Day, a Rachel House patient excursion program designed to bring joy and create lasting memories for children living with serious illnesses and their families, offering them precious moments of happiness and magical wonders.
The magic on this beautiful day was made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of AEON Fantasy Indonesia.
Making One Fine Day a reality takes more than just a moment’s preparation. It requires careful planning and dedication, seamless collaboration, and a deep sense of passion and commitment from both the Rachel House team and the wonderfully compassionate AEON Fantasy Indonesia team.
Building Trust with Sponsors Towards Magic Making for the Children
AEON Fantasy Indonesia (AFI) welcomed our “One Fine Day” proposal as the idea is aligned perfectly with AFI’s values and corporate mission to “inspire enthusiasm in every child so that there is a smile on every face”.
The One Fine Day project with AFI began with careful planning discussions between both teams. The choice of venue was critical to ensuring an unforgettable, yet safe and comfortable experience for the children; and involved multiple site visits to survey the various AFI locations before ultimately selecting Fanpekka at AEON Mall Jakarta Garden City as the perfect setting. This was then followed by the careful selection of patients who were able to participate, both due to their medical condition as well as the age compatibility and willingness of their caregivers. The entire planning stage took a little over 2 months of collaborative effort by both Rachel House and AFI, before finally finalising the event’s concept and execution plans, to make One Fine Day a reality!
Bringing to Life One Fine Day Filled with Awe & Wonder
As the D-day approached for One Fine Day, our team was busy with crucial preparations. This included arranging transportation for patients, informing patients and caregivers careful instructions to ensure safety and comfort, and preparing our nurses and community health workers to attend the event to cater for medical emergencies – everything in place to ensure a day of magic, awe and wonder for our patients, children who would not have otherwise have the opportunity to experience this. .
The long-awaited day arrived with excitement. One by one, patients and their families arrived at the event location. Their faces beaming with joy and their playful outfits adding to the excitement, especially because for the majority of our patients, this is the first time they visit a modern and indoor playground.
As the day unfolded at Fanpekka, the scene was nothing short of magical. The children’s happiness and laughter echoed through the air. Their eyes sparkled with delight as they explored every corner of the playground. The vibrant energy of the children was contagious, filling our hearts with immense gratitude – that we could make this magical day happen for these children who have had to face more hardships than most children their age.
This day of play and laughter brought smiles to faces, forged new memories, and reinforced the importance of creating joyful moments for those who need them most.
Although the day has passed, yet the joy and happiness from the day remain firmly held in the hearts of our patients, cherished for a long time to come.
Echoes of Happiness from Our Patients and Their Families
The excitement grew in Lani’s* heart (16 years old) when she entered Fanpekka, and her eyes continued to shine even as she returned home. This beautiful young girl shared:
“I’m so happy to be here because I’ve never been to a place like this before! This is the first time I’ve been to such a fun playground. I played on the slide with my new friends and had an amazing time today!”
The joy was equally palpable for Tara* (12 years old). Just like Lani, Tara made new friends among fellow Rachel House patients and enjoyed every moment of the day. At one point, Tara’s grandmother expressed to Nurse Ayu her hope that, if she could have a fortune in the future, she wishes to bring Tara, his siblings, and their mother, back to Fanpekka for another joyful visit.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
As the day ended, it was clear that this event was more than just an excursion for all involved. It was a celebration of life, an affirmation of hope, and a testament to the power of community and compassion. Words cannot fully express our gratitude to AEON Fantasy Indonesia. One Fine Day at Fanpekka has become a beacon of light for these children and their families, offering a much-needed respite from their daily realities.
This magical day at Fanpekka will forever hold a special place in our hearts, reminding us of the incredible impact we can make when we come together to support those in need.
Just like AEON Fantasy Indonesia with their amazing support, would you like to join us in creating more moments of joy and hope for our patients? Whether by hosting our children at your chosen venue, volunteering to help organize it, or funding another One Fine Day event. Your support can make a world of difference to the life of these children!
Contact us at [email protected] or call us at +6221 5365 2197 to help us bring smiles and unforgettable memories to these brave children and their families.
*name changed to privacy