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Camp Chief’s Report As this year our usual camp chief did not manage to go and as I visited but was not there the majority of the time was taken up with official business I asked one of the young members of the team to give a report
Report from Kelly McKinnon I found this years camp a unique and rewarding experience, being able to see where the children come from is a fantastic sight and helped us to understand the importance and effect the charity actually has. Visiting the orphanages was in a way, harder for me and upsetting sometimes, as I experienced how they live. It was strange being the visitor and quite funny when the children dragged you round to show you how proud they were. It was the most warming feeling, especially in the morning, walking out to a crowd of smiling faces, lots of noise and laughing and excitement from the children, which was like a wave through the group. Activities were great fun too and a disco was always a guaranteed winner. The children love to dance and are quite adamant that you become completely exhausted dancing too. It was all so overwhelming I found, at times, especially at Sasca as I had never worked with disabled children before. My only regret is that we could not spend longer at each orphanage. This is hard to explain to anyone who has never been. The feeling and experience that you get, especially the attachment. I cannot imagine not going out to see the children and am already looking forward to next year. Kelly Sasca is the only hospital where we have been allowed to have a few handicapped children camping over night for the last 4 years. Having talked to the Director this year it is hoped we will be able to bring more next year plus arrange for a team to stay at Sasca. The policy of the Romanian Government is to form small homes with a small number of children with foster parents. This will take a while as they have been talking about this for about three years, but it is now taking place. At Gura Humoriliu the director there has already made self-contained flats for small numbers of children within the orphanage, and as mentioned, has now got a flat in the town. Each one has its own foster parent and the children work as a family sharing the chores. One area where we can help is with the young adults (over 17) in the hospital at Siret. Who will never be able to do a job to support themselves, but where we may be able to create little jobs for them on the site so giving them self respect and getting them out for a few hours each day. We are looking at the feasibility of such a scheme. Also to provide materials and equipment to the hospital that is within their capabilities. I feel the team and I found this year very informative. David Kennington MBE |