Testimonials
Michael’s Story
Michael is nine years old and has four brothers and sisters. Neglected by his mother and abused by his father, he was removed from his parents’ care in 2007 after witnessing his father kill the family dog. An AVO now prevents contact with his parents and he and his siblings are all living with different foster carers.
On top of all this Michael has an extreme case of diabetes and needs to take insulin regularly throughout the day, even when he is trying to sleep. There are many foods he cannot eat and the disease may leave him blind by the age of 20.
Relationships with adults are a struggle for Michael, and during the camp the leaders worked with him to build trust and hope. He engaged well with the other kids and with staff once trust was established. He enjoyed the opportunity to be a kid again, taking part in adventure activities and having fun with his sister who was also able to join the camp through Operation Hope. Despite all the hardship in his life, Michael always has a smile on his face and continues to make the most of every day.
James’s Story
James struggles with ADHD. He is often loud and abusive, lacks social skills, and has an endless supply of excitement and energy. He also finds relationships challenging, so coming to a camp full of new people was quite overwhelming for James. He often found himself in conflicts with other campers and when situations got heated, he quickly became anxious and confused. His problematic behaviour continued to escalate as he got more worked up.
After these episodes he would distance himself from the whole group, feeling unloved, lonely and hopeless. It was in these precious moments our leaders were able to impart love, hope and encouragement into him, speaking positive words that he has rarely heard.
It was a challenge, but by the end of the week we had helped James control his anger and the way in which he interacted with his peers. As the leaders took the time to invest in him, he was encouraged to embrace his positive qualities. Although we may have only scratched the surface, it was definitely a positive experience for James.
Kim’s Story
Kim is a child who bears many of the burdens and responsibilities of an adult. The youngest of four children, she has a sister with a severe intellectual disability who needs a lot of support and assistance. Her father is very ill and is unable to work and requires continual time in hospital. This means Kim takes on many domestic duties around the home as she also tries to fit in her homework and school activities.
With all this going on at home Kim had a shaky start to camp as she struggled to fit in and communicate with others. The leaders worked with her to develop confidence and personal strength and eventually she began to participate in all activities. She enjoyed the break from the pressures of home for a week and told us she hoped to return to camp through Operation Hope again one day.
Kylie’s Story
Ten years ago when Kylie was two, her father was involved in an accident resulting in brain damage. With symptoms similar to schizophrenia and manic depression, he can no longer work and Kylie’s mum is now his full-time carer. This has left the family in financial difficulty as they struggle to survive, and Kylie’s father has wanted to end his life several times. This has been extremely stressful for her and she often gets teased at school.
A sweet and caring girl, Kylie was always looking out for the other kids while on camp. She participated with such enthusiasm in all activities and enjoyed a week of being accepted, without being teased. She really came out of her shell and we received a lot of positive feedback from the leaders about how happy and considerate she was. For one week Kylie was able to leave her worries at home and enjoy a rare opportunity for some carefree fun.
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