Shongweni Kids Camp

During the July holidays, a group of us volunteered to attend a Christian Kids Camp in Shongweni. This camp was run by two American Missionaries. What an experience it was! The camp was held in a church in Ntshongweni, which is a very rural poor area. The children in the area were all on holiday from school or were not old enough to attend school yet. We worked with children from the ages of 3 to 18. We were all allocated an age group and the activities included- a bible story, a music session, arts and crafts and sport activities. It was a challenging week having to travel for many kilometres and only having very few of us looking after about 80-100 children. This experience, however, opened up my mind and heart to community. Although the camp was not done for OT, there were so many aspects that could filter into Occupational Therapy such as constructive use of leisure time, gaining social skills and interacting and supporting one another, learning work habits at the arts and crafts station and learning to help one another in their community. I look so forward to starting community next year in our fourth year. It is something that I have always been interested in, and this camp ignited the spark in my heart once again. This camp was heart warming as we got to know all the children and be doing God’s work at the same time