Holiday camps for disadvantaged children

Not every child lives in a family that has the means to go on holiday, even though in our welfare society we may tend to think so. Through its camps, the Red Cross aims to respond to the social needs of children living in poverty and invites them to go on holiday. Thanks to the unconditional commitment of Red Cross volunteers, these children can enjoy an unforgettable holiday experience. They can return as happy children because, just as their friends, they have been on holiday.

Red Cross Flanders does much more than 'giving blood'; it also defends the most vulnerable persons in our society: families living in poverty, elderly people, persons with a disability, chronically ill persons, etc.

Usually, families living in poverty suffer most from the resulting social exclusion. Their poverty affects their confidence and leads to a sense of inferiority, which in turn decreases their opportunities for personal development. Red Cross Flanders tries, among other things, to reach out to the socially excluded by organising holidays for children of poor families. The purpose of these camps is twofold:

• On the one hand, while organising the camps, they frequently consult with the parents, which strengthens their self-image. The holiday camp also offers them a welcome break.
• On the other hand, the children themselves have a fantastic week in which they are given the necessary individual attention and care and can enjoy themselves to the full.

Apart from the many volunteers, they also need financial support to turn these holiday camps into a success. This financial support is used, among others, to organise activities such as a day trip to a theme park or indoor playground, to purchase play equipment and to give them a package with markers, a pen bag and other school supplies to take back home at the end of the holiday.

More information on Red Cross Holiday Camps can be found on: http://www.rodekruis.be/NL/Activiteiten/SocAct/Kinderen/#vakantie