(previously Camp Sunshine) is a residential medically-supervised adventure camp for chronically ill children aged between five and 15.
Held in June every year, the camp which is run by a core group of volunteers, aims to show these children that they are not alone in their daily struggle and there are others who care for them. Equally important, it provides a platform in which each child can make a difference in lives of others.
To ensure the programmes meet the psychological, physical and emotional needs of the children, camp activities cater to two age groups: those aged between five and 10 (kids), and between 11 and 15 (teens).
Objectives of our annual camp
• To enable our little campers to develop a sense of independence and a positive group identification.
• To enable the children to raise their own self-esteem and self-confidence.
• To contribute to the development of the children’s creative, cognitive and physical skills, and their personality.
• To enable the children to have quality interaction with other children and the volunteers so as to foster long-lasting friendships.
The inaugural Camp Rainbow was organised in 1991 with 44 children taking part. The success of the camp and the overwhelming enthusiasm and support of beneficiaries, families, volunteers and sponsors led to it becoming an annual event. For a time, the name was changed to Camp Sunshine as selected children from other charities have been invited to attend.
Our camp in 2007 was held from June 1 to June 3 at the Singapore Sports School in Woodlands with more than 80 children and about 200 volunteers taking part. For the first time it included some overseas participants - six chronically ill children from the Philippines accompanied by their befrienders. The theme for camp was "The Musical".
Since 2005, former campers have returned to do their part for the younger ones – taking charge of some programmes. It is envisioned that in the years to come, these ex-beneficiaries will assume the running of future camps!
Said Fasihah Amerudin, 21, a polytechnic undergraduate who suffers from chronic asthma: ”I attended Camp as a teenager who could not understand my physical difficulties. However, the Camp has taught me about being independent and expecting more of life against all odds. Hence, returning to camp as a volunteer is one way of me expressing my gratitude to the camp that has supported me both emotionally and psychologically.”
The planning and organisation of the annual camp is a mammoth undertaking involving many people mostly volunteers who are holding full-time jobs but they are willing to give us their precious free time for the kids.
Among the volunteers are Camp Befrienders are required to undergo intensive training focused on taking care of children with special medical needs, seeing to their well being throughout the camp and ensuring that each child has opportunities to make the most out of each carefully-crafted activity.
A medical team of doctors and nurses will follow the children through the various programmes during the camp. Their presence is critical to ensure that should any medical emergency arise, help is immediately available. Two ambulances are also on 24-hour standby at the camp to ferry children to hospital if needed.
Apart from the Befrienders, more than 100 other volunteers – were also on hand to arrange all the activities from organsing meals to ensuring the smooth running of back-to-back programmes. One veteran Befriender Leslie Lee, 35, said: "The magic of Camp began for me way back in 1991 when I was pulled into the organising committee for the first Camp, and every year since then, it feels like coming home to lots of familiar faces and a few new ones too. One of the children from a previous camp is now back as a volunteer.
“Watching these kids do things they never thought possible, seeing them run, laugh and just enjoy the simple joys of childhood, forgetting for a few days the battle each has to wage with illnesses … it makes all the hard work and the many late meetings to get the camp organised, such a worthwhile mission. I feel privileged to be a part of this camp.”
It is the selfless dedication of people like Leslie that have made our annual camp a special experience second to none!
