NASSAU, The Bahamas -- Camp Inclusion, a two-week summer programme designed to provide differently-abled children with opportunities to interact with each other as part of “embracing diversity,” recently came to what officials said was “a successful conclusion.”

The Camp also provided Camp Instructors and facilitators with the opportunity to address the twin issues of access and inclusion for all at an early age. 

Facilitated by the Community Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting at Flamingo Gardens Family Life Centre, the camp was a collaborative effort between the Ministry, its Community Affairs and Disability Affairs Divisions, the Bahamas Coalition of Advocates for Disability Awareness and Service (BaCADAS), the Board of Directors of the Flamingo Gardens Family Life Centre, and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), along with social partner Aliv.  Representatives from the community of persons with disabilities served as Camp Instructors.

Children with different levels and types of disabilities, along with student advocates, participated in the two-week Camp. In addition to in-house sessions, camp participants undertook a number of field trips and other activities which end results were to ensure that participating youth learn about living with mobility and intellectual disabilities, advocacy, inclusion and accessibility.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, Mrs. Phedra Rahming-Turnquest, said ministry officials were excited with the outcomes.

“Camp Inclusion allowed its participants, some of them differently-abled, from different communities, different schools, different families, and different exposures, to come together as children and celebrate their diversity, celebrate their differences, while showing love, respect and understanding for each other,” Mrs. Rahming-Turnquest said.

“All of the information the participants would have learnt over the two weeks should have positive impacts on their lives going forward whether it is at home or at school. Share what you have learned. Do not keep it to yourselves,” Mrs. Rahming-Turnquest admonished.

Chairman of The Bahamas Coalition of Advocates for Disability Awareness and Service (BaCADAS), and Camp Coordinator, Mr. Kendrick Rolle, said the association between the camp participants did not end with the conclusion of the camp.  Camp Inclusion is considered the brainchild of Mr. Rolle.

“Camp Inclusion (is a sequel) to Camp Abilities which was held back in 2016 and focused mainly on children with disabilities. I then recognized that children learn from children so much more, and so in order for us to have some improvement with youth with disabilities, we had to pair them with those of their same age bracket and help them to learn from each other. That was the vision for Camp Inclusion,” Mr. Rolle said.

“Persons with disabilities are part of every community throughout our country and are increasing daily. Today you may not have a disability, but that can change in the twinkling of an eye and so we need to teach our children what to do, whom they can turn to, how to cope, and where to turn to if they find themselves or a family member living with a disability.

“We have had some special moments with some special people over the past two weeks and so we want to ensure that they are practicing what they learnt, and build upon the friendships and relationships that would have been developed over the two weeks, with follow-up sessions,” Mr. Rolle added.

 
(BIS Photos/Patrice Johnson)