Placement Activity: Holiday Cards

This is a really simple idea that many volunteers overlook when they are trying to think of what they can do at their placement.  Creating personalized holiday or greeting cards is a great craft that can then be used to brighten another day!  This volunteer made holiday cards twice, once with kids and once with adults - and both times it was very successful.

Activity/Idea name: 
Greeting/Holiday Cards

Brief description of the placement where you work (please include ages, number of people, languages spoken, other etc):
I did this activity in Russia at two separate placements. One was with around 30 elderly individuals at a day center, and the other was with around 15 adults with developmental disabilities at a day center.

Goal of the activity:
This is a craft activity to create meaningful, personalized cards for family and friends.

Required resources:

• Pre-folded construction paper (folded in half once)
• Markers, colored pens
• Glitter and decorative objects to add to cards (such as pre-cut letters)
• Glue
• Scissors, including decorative edged scissors if available

Step-by-step process: 

This is a great activity for adults. Provide each adult with the materials to create their card, and show 2 examples (one holiday card, if appropriate, and one thank you or greeting card). This is also a great time to share some traditions in your home country if it is centered around a holiday theme. As these are adults, little supervision should be needed. 

 

Do you have any suggestions/improvements for the next time?
Make sure that the materials that you use are of reasonable quality (ie – no ripped construction paper). The participants want to make these cards beautiful and meaningful.

Ask the in-country staff about holidays and traditions for these holidays – you will want to make sure that holiday cards are appropriate. Also, give different options for the themes of the card, understanding that each person’s situation will be different.