Camp Quality makes a day in Lowveld kids’ lives special
Thirty children with chronic diseases or disorders got the opportunity to visit various places across the Lowveld during the Camp Quality hosted recently.
Camp Quality was established in Australia in 1983, hosting this now inaugural camp at the end of that year for children suffering from cancer, to bring quality to these children’s lives.
The rest is history.
Brian Hyson, a White River-based Rotarian, took the initiative to bring Camp Quality to White River over 30 years ago, and today it is a flagship programme of the White River Rotarians, held at Uplands College every year.
Covid stopped the camp in its tracks for a number of years, but thankfully the programme was revived this year.
ALSO READ: Midwives applauded after births of triplets and twins in Jane Furse
Pediatric Care Africa (PCA), a local medical NGO, was asked to get involved with getting 30 children from Mpumalanga aged between eight and 15 to attend the first post-Covid camp. Previously over the years, children were brought to Uplands from Johannesburg.
This gave 30 local kids the opportunity to attend this exciting, fun-filled event from April 27 to May 1. All of them slept over at Uplands for the duration of the camp and had experiences that for most of them was a first.
They went on airplane rides at the old Nelspruit Airfield, rode on motorcycles, had a close-up snake demonstration, and visited Elephant Whispers to interact with elephants. There were many more activities throughout the duration of the camp.
The children were supported by a full medical team of three doctors from the paediatric surgical ward at Rob Ferreira Hospital and three nurses who were available 24/7. Added to this was the large number of White River Rotary Club members who looked after their well-being. The kids held a concert and farewell dinner to thank all the sponsors and people who assisted them. According to the organisers, it was a splendid effort.
Each of the children also went home with a blanket from Penny Boden and her team of Knitwits, along with renewed hope, and new friends and memories that will last them a lifetime.
Parents or caregivers of kids in Mpumalanga with a chronic disease or disorder can contact PCA at info@pediatriccarerafrica.org to book a spot for their child at next year’s Camp Quality, hosted in April. There are only 30 spaces available.
The child has to be physically able to bath themselves, dress themselves and go to the bathroom themselves. They must also be between the age of 8 and 15 by April next year.
