Camp Rainbow adds colour to their childhood

Sixty-five kids with chronic illnesses get a chance to build independence and confidence at the medically supervised three-day, two-night event with 113 volunteers

- Elisa Chia

Eager for her first camp experience, seven-year-old Syarifah Alawiyah Alaydrus could not wait for the June school holidays to start.

"She was so excited that she told her teachers about the sign-up and kept asking me every day: 'When is my camp?'" Madam Nor Hidayah Alaudin, 39, a senior patient service associate, said of her daughter.

Annabel Ong, 12, was also pumped up for the three-day, two-night camp.

While holiday programmes abound during school breaks, Camp Rainbow is unique, catering to beneficiaries aged six to 16 from Club Rainbow (Singapore).

The charity supports children with chronic illnesses, including Alawiyah, who has osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease; and Annabel, who has been diagnosed with central hypoventilation syndrome, a sleep-related breathing disorder.

Held from May 31 to June 2, the medically supervised event was supported by 113 volunteers — including 22 doctors and nurses — who outnumbered the 65 young campers.

To ensure their well-being, the children were mostly paired with a befriender for support and shared accommodation at D'Resort @ Downtown East in Pasir Ris. Some kids with special needs or disabilities were assisted by two befrienders.

The participants engaged in diverse activities, including games at Pasir Ris Park, an indoor campfire at Singapore University of Technology and Design and an indoor sports carnival at Goodwood Park Hotel.

Throughout the programmes, the children were divided into six groups, each accompanied by a doctor and a nurse. There were additional medical staff who oversaw the event as well.

Started in 1991, Camp Rainbow existed before the non-profit Club Rainbow (Singapore) was formed.

"At that time, there wasn't such a camp for vulnerable children, so a group of volunteers decided to organise one," said Mr Teo Siang Loong, executive director of Club Rainbow (Singapore).