Summer Camp participants

Palo Ambassador choir and orchestra prepares for parade.

The summer camp were attended by a total of 150 participants composed of 70 CWDs, 20 non disabled children, 25 camp counsellors, 4 NCO staff, 4 Mediators, 4 co-workers and 27 guests from LGUs.

The activity was lasted for three days and two nights. The CWDs campers came from 4 POs of Liliane Foundation that includes Pahinog Costa in Palapag Northern Samar, St. Camillus Hospital in Calbayog Samar, Current Foundation in Calbiga Samar and Hingyap CBR in Palo Leyte.

It was such an extra ordinary feeling for those children who attended the camp for the first time especially those from Pahinog Costa in Palapag and Current Foundation in Calbiga.

It was also a very memorable experience for the nursing student of UP-Manila School of Health Sciences in Palo, Leyte to accept the responsibility as camp counsellors for those children who acted as Ate’s and Kuya’s for three days. It was their first time to handle and be with children with disabilities.

The camp was opened thru a Eucharistic celebration officiated by our Mediator Fr. James Roa, MI of  Order of St. Camillus, followed by the blessings of the camping sites and tents.

Sister Agnetia rendered her welcome address by congratulating all the member of the committee and Mediators for their effort to give time to bring the children in Palo, Leyte. She also commented on continues support and commitment of the Mediators and co-workers to monitor the development of these children.

The three days camp was full of various experiential activities that inspired the campers to show their abilities in dancing, singing, drawing, arts and crafts, sports and parlor games.

The campers and camp counsellors were divided into 8 groups with their respective group names and yell in relation with the theme” you are right, we have rights”

From early morning at 6:00am the campers was oblige to wake up to start the day with a bang up to 9:00 o’clock in the evening it will end up with so much fun and laughter. There was no vacant time, every minute has full of activities.

The activities conducted were as follows:

• Poster making
  

  Campers and Camp Counsellors ready to go!!!

  Campers and Camp Counsellors with their respective group lined up in preparation for the parade

   

   

   

• Arts and crafts
  

  Arts and craft picture frames

  Picture frames were made by children with disabilities using cartons and shells

   

   

   

• Disco
  

  Disco time

  Disco is part of socialization of Campers and Camp Counsellors on their first day

   

   

   

• Parade at the vicinity  

• Cultural nights held at the town plaza
  

  Cultural night in Palo Plaza

  Picture taking after bon fire and cultural shows of each group

   

   

   

• Bon fire
  

  Bonfire in plaza with campers and camp counsellors

  Camp participants and facilitators goes around the Bonfire in Plaza before the performances start.

   

   

• Sports (track and field, standing long jump)
• Parlor games

 To make the campers more attentive and participative there are prices in every tasked they finished as a reward for their group effort. The groups should have a team effort and unity so that they will win.

During the cultural nights each group presented their best concept on how to advocates for the rights of CWDs. To make it more effective the program was held at the town plaza so that the community can have a chance to witness the talents of the campers.

One thing that makes the camp more lively was the presence of the Palo Ambassador Choir, Ensemble and Orchestra. The group was composed of young people who were trained to play different musical instrument. The group were also beneficiaries and assisted by Hingyap Foundation. They are non disabled.

During the closing ceremony the committee gave award to the following:

·         Best Camp Counselor ( Ate and Kuya)

·         Best Camper

·         Most Active Camper

·         Most Helpful Camper

·         Best Group Leader

·         Best Group

·         Best in Arts and Crafts

The camping was supported by the LGUs of Palo, PNP who takes care for the security, UP-Manila SHS, DPWH Region 8, Palo Ambassador and the community.

During the evaluation the camp group appeal to continue the activity. The proposed date will be in 2010 since it entails big preparation and resources in terms of logistic and finance.

The NCO was the one conceptualized the activity. The aim is to give them an idea on how to facilitate a camp.