Clémentine Mukampabuka, of the Oran community, reports on her participation in this year’s summer camp.
The Diocesan Centre Pierre Claverie (CPC) in Oran organized its 16th summer camp in the first half of July. This is a two-week summer camp for children aged 7 to 13. This year there were 60 children and a dozen animators.
The children were divided into two main groups: the lions, aged 11 to 13, and the fennecs (desert foxes), aged 7 to 10.
These names symbolize the city of Oran, Wahrân in Arabic, which means two lions, and Algeria’s national animal, the desert fox. The children wore these names with pride.
There were 5 workshops: drawing, cooking, crafts, games and dance. Everyone had the opportunity to take part in all the different activities. The first week ended on a high note with an outing to a farm called “My Rose”. Roses, a fish fountain, a swimming pool, animals including peacocks and fennecs, a reconstruction of a traditional palace from the south of the country called a “ksar”, and so on. This was followed by an afternoon at “Les Andalouses” beach. Whether on the farm or in the water, the children were the happiest.
The parents who gave them to us with apprehension held their breath as they prayed for all of us that all the children would come home safe and sound. Everything went well, we started the second week with enthusiasm even if the fatigue was felt. The same workshops were maintained with reorganization of the activities.
I was responsible for logistics and accounting for the smooth running of activities. The challenges abounded. It was a question of ensuring the safeguarding of the ecosystem and instilling in the members of the group the sense of care for creation, good discipline and respect for gender and gender equality, good forecasting and the proper management of the goods made available to us (games, paints, pearls, money, papers and pencils, food, sound equipment, etc.). I can say that these challenges have been met at 70%. There is always room for improvement.
The last day, Thursday July 13 was reserved for the party. It was a half-day of relaxation, of fun among children, parents and animators.
We gave what we received: The joy of living.
