Life Skills Camps
BACKGROUND:
One of the greatest effects of the AIDS pandemic is its impact on the psychological and mental health of children who have nursed and lost their parents under traumatic circumstances. The impact of parental death on children is complex and affects the child’s mental health and social energy, and might further result in stunted development of emotional intelligence and life skills. Many of the children we have worked with since 1998, show psychosomatic disturbances, depression, very low self-esteem, disturbed social behaviour, hopelessness, low levels of life skills etc. We have observed that with relatively unsophisticated, direct and culturally appropriate psychosocial support interventions for children affected by AIDS, very encouraging results to improve the resilience and coping capacity of children can be achieved. Life skills camps are one such intervention that can be used. This method of giving life skills through bush camps is an old African tradition still practiced in some societies today and has been revitalized to address this new stress on the community caused by HIV and AIDS. Our life skills camps are modelled along the Outward Bound concept whose major objective is to allow the participant to discover their full potential by direct experiences and challenges.
The main objectives of the camp process are:
- Restoring and strengthening of self-esteem
- Allowing and supporting grief processes to overcome trauma
- Development of goal setting, decision making and negotiation skills
- Empowerment and a healthy sense of responsibility for one’s life
- (Re-) instilling values and hope for a future
MODEL DESCRIPTION:
Each camp takes 8 – 10 days. Children come in different age groups, 6 -11, 12 – 16, and a special camp for Children Heading Households, normally between 16 and 20 years. Camps for Children Heading Households have a teen parenting and household management courses in addition to the main camp programme. Occasional camps are also held for children with disabilities. Masiye Camp counsellors are highly trained, experienced and enthusiastic young people. One camp counsellor works with 5 children. Each day is filled with quality programmes and activities. In the morning, campers gather for exercises, morning devotions in small groups, breakfast, outdoor activities and talks on issues affecting children and youth. The spiritual needs of children are met through daily multi-denominational devotions. The rest of the day is spend on counsellor directed activities which include arts and crafts, canoeing, rafting, foofy slide, abseiling, Burma bridge and other challenge courses. Camp-wide activities include tug of war, scavenger hunts, performing arts and theme nights. Underlying all this training is the use of experiential adventure based learning.
LESSONS LEARNT:
- There is a significant prevalence of self confidence and coping among children who have gone through the camp experience (ex-campers), which suggests that the program is succeeding in building confidence and coping skills.
- Ex-campers express more feelings such as sadness because the experience has encouraged them to express their emotions.
- The camp program may not be adequately addressing stress, hopelessness and anxiety of participants.
- Community camps may be in the best position to offer ongoing PSS.
- The camp programme should be better tailored to address issues of females and older adolescents.
- The camp program gives the participants a "peak experience", which is an indelible mark in their lives.
- The camp program needs to be complimented by a comprehensive follow up system, otherwise ex-campers may even be more distressed once back in their communities.
- Youth programs need adult guidance.
- The ten day camp experience is too short to conduct comprehensive bereavement counselling.
- Work with vulnerable children is very dynamic, therefore despite our experience, we know very little. There is need to continuously develop new and innovative methodologies for assisting vulnerable children.
- A child who goes through the camp experience reaches out to at least three other children once back in the community.
Achievements:
In August 2001, Masiye Camp was featured in a UNAIDS Best Practice Publication on psychosocial support interventions for orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
In April 2003, Masiye Camp was awarded the Auxillia Chimusoro Award, which is sponsored by Futures Group International, for excellence in responding to the psychosocial needs of children affected by AIDS.