Camp “Ray of Hope” 2006

Summer vacation is not only a time to rest and relax, but it is also a time to play, make friends, experience new and challenging things and create memories for a lifetime.

For children with hemophilia, in Romania, summer vacation is a time of loneliness and isolation. While other children play outside or go to camp, these children have to stay indoors protected by the walls of their home and under the watchful and worried eyes of their parents.

The summer of 2006 changed their life forever because for eight days thirty eight children with hemophilia in Romania had their first experience as campers. The children, between the ages of six and sixteen, represented many different ethnic backgrounds. There were Romanian children, Roma (Gypsy) children as well as children of Hungarian and German descent. They came from all corners of Romania: Transylvania, Moldavia, Bucharest, from big cities and small villages. We even had a camper from the Republic of Moldova.

The campers participated in various activities such as nutrition classes, learning to infuse, English lessons, physiotherapy sessions, arts and crafts, swimming, water balloon fights, T shirt tie dye, story telling, kite flying, talent show and an Award Ceremony. The children also participated at an astrology presentation, saw a puppet show, visited the Planetarium and saw a dolphin show.

Camp "Ray of Hope" provided a life-changing experience for children whose daily lives were otherwise limited to loneliness and seclusion and gave them the opportunity to be all they can be. It taught them confidence, self-reliance, cooperation, character building, independence, and how to make choices by exposing them to role models from their own community.

The camp ran under the expert guidance of three medical doctors and two registered nurses from Romania, a physiotherapist from England, all specializing in hemophilia. Many outstanding volunteers came from United States and England, as well.

With their help and under their supervision campers experienced the joys of camp, the splendor of the beach and the sea, and the beauty of camaraderie. Many of these children had never seen the beach before and perhaps they would have never been able to experience it. It was a gift of a lifetime.

This summer I went to a camp for children with hemophilia. There I had the opportunity to meet wonderful people and other boys with hemophilia like me. During the camp we shared a lot of stories, we did arts and crafts, played games, we swam a lot, and every thing was wonderful. We had factor so that every thing was perfect. I can't even find my words to thank the sponsors and the organizers for making this dream come true. I hope I can go to this camp again because it was a very beautiful experience.

Felix