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A local charity for children with disabilities returns for in-person events this Christmas season
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A local charity for children with disabilities returns for in-person events this Christmas season

Ashvin Tiwana·
No logo
·30 November 2021

After a year of online sessions, the student led non-profit organisation is back and ready to get into costumes to spread the joy of winter season among Cardiff’s paediatric communities and charities

The president of Make a Smile Cardiff mending the booth at the 2021 Freshers Fair
Victoria Abrahams, president of Make a Smile Cardiff at the 2021 Freshers Fair. (Credit: Victoria Abrahams)

Following their online sessions due to the lockdowns, Make a Smile Cardiff is back spreading smiles face-to-face, and packed with events through the year.

Since being founded in the summer of 2017, Make a Smile members dress up and portray famous characters such as Elsa, Peter Pan, and Cinderella, to brighten up a paediatric patient’s day.

President of Make a Smile Cardiff Victoria Abrahams said, “We’re organising more events and we’ve got lots of Christmas parties with some community centres and charities in Cardiff. We will dress up in our winter costumes.”

“I absolutely love these events, noticing how the children’s faces light up when they see a princess dress or a superhero costume, that just can’t be replicated online,” she added.

I love these events, noticing how the children’s faces light up when they see a princess or a superhero

However, these events do come with certain new rules to follow, such as social distancing and mandatory mask-wearing, as ‘lots of our events welcome vulnerable children.’

Additional means of communication 

Make a Smile works alongside communities and charities which deal with underprivileged children.

“Specific charities in Cardiff are mainly for deaf children, and during these specific events, we want to know how to use sign language as it’s good to be able to communicate effectively with these kids,” said Victoria. 

Late October, Make a Smile collaborated with the Cardiff British Sign Language Society (BSL) for a training session, as BSL can play a big part of Make a Smile events, especially when the main form of communication is non-verbal sign language with lip reading.

 “About 65% of what we do is not verbal, so body language is something that’s really important,” says Zoe Bannister, training officer for Make a Smile Cardiff. This includes gestures, and expressive or dramatic facial expressions. 

Make a Smile is a student led charity at Cardiff University. To get involved, click here.  


Superhero Q&A

President of Make a Smile Cardiff Victoria Abrahams shares her favourite character to portray:

Victoria (left) and Seren Leale (vice president of Make a Smile Cardiff) dressed as Spider Gwen and Mrs Incredibles at a recent event. (Credit: Victoria Abrahams)

“I usually play Princess Belle. We have similar characteristics and I enjoy the process of getting ready to be her. The character is very elegant, and the Belle dress I wear is extraordinary; it never fails to impress the children, adults, and staff at the events.”

Tags
Cardiff charitycharityChristmascommunitycostumesMake a Smilenon-profit
Ashvin Tiwana
Ashvin Tiwana is a trainee magazine journalist with an interest in all things people, food, travel, and literature.
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