Red Thread Promise

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Things we love about Camp Jake - The beach at sunset

Sonya, Diana and Olixus.

These images are from our first time taking the kids to the beach. A large group of us traveled down the stairs and across the sand to the water's rocky edge. We stopped along the way to allow the blind students to touch various trees, bushes and stones. When we finally made it to the beach, the blind campers were the first to roll up their pant legs and climb right in. What was going to be just putting their feet in, turned into nearly full-body swimming! Everyone explored the beach and enjoyed the beautiful sunset together. Several of the deaf children commandeered our cameras and began photographing everything under the setting sun.

Heading toward the beach.

Tom and Diana.

Evans, Elisme and Markenson, our 3 blind muskateers, examining a tree with their hands.

Touching various stones and other natural materials was a real treat for the blind students.

Emmanuel, one of the caregivers, and Jimmy, getting ready to get in the water.

Tom and Tiffany helping the first group into the water.

The bank is quite steep, which isn't evident from this photograph.

The stones are smooth and slippery, making the decent

into the water more challenging for the blind students.

Jimmy and Tiffany.

Tom and Diana.

Dieumene, a reserved girl, savoring the view.

Rose and Sonya.

Blanda and Samantha enjoying a friendly moment!

Maggie chatting with Diana.

Diana and Oxilus.

Rose, Jabari and Blanda.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Things we love about Camp Jake - Cleanliness is next to godliness

Working with the campers on personal hygiene and overall cleanliness will play an important role in each Camp Jake. Before every meal, hands are sanitized. After snacks, all trash is picked up from the ground, something many Haitians are unaccustomed to. Campers shower on a daily basis and wash their hands multiple times each day, especially after using the bathroom.

But we are taking it a step further. A church in central Ohio gathered mountains of personal hygiene products for each camper and a group training lesson was held. Instructions were given in English, Kreyol and sign language so every camper could understand the contents of their care packages and what to do with each item. The blind students received additional attention following the lesson to ensure they could identify each product by shape and size.

Stress was given to:
keeping these items for yourself and not sharing
proper use of each item including when to use it, how many times per day, etc.
and, most importantly, WHY we cleanliness is important: to thwart sickness and disease as well as maintain respect for one-self and your own personal appearance
While a serious subject, there was some comic relief. The most amusing part was Tom's impromptu demonstrations of many products, like a soapy loofah, dental floss and mouth wash. He had everyone in stitches, making the process more enjoyable.

However, the highlight of the training was when Jonas, our Haitian "go-to" man, performed the final demonstration: showing everyone that lip balm was not just for women. We explained that lip balm is not the same as lip gloss or lipstick. Understanding Haitian culture, we knew that a final demonstration was in order, and for it to be effective, the demo person needed to be Haitian. Even Jonas was hesitant to use the lip balm, but he did so graciously, only to be told he was "trè bèl" or "very pretty" in Kreyol. The entire group was in stitches!

(left to right) JoJo translating in sign, Tom demonstrating

how to use the electric toothbrush, Jonas translating into Kreyol, and Maggie.

Everyone listened intently to Tom & Maggie's directions.

Tom showing Busoco how to use dental floss.

Moise looking at the photos of the Brownie troop that donated toothbrushes and candy.

Dieumene showing Elisme how to apply lip balm.

Mouthwash demonstration.

The entire group with their packages.

Jonas helping Marie Carmel out of the lesson with

her bags of hygiene products and homemade trail mix.

Maile and Kelly.

Diana & Auguste.

Marilene and Samantha.

Genie & Clarrisian.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Things we love about Camp Jake - Swimming in the ocean

Campers and counselors navigating the rocky beach on their way to the water.

Samantha and Dieumene.

Zacharie decided to be our photographer for the morning in lieu of swimming

We took nearly every camper with every type of ability to the beach again today. As time went on, few chose to stay on the rocky beach.

Counselors made a semi-circle in the water in a relatively shallow area allowing the independent swimmers to enjoy some freedom within limits (and under close supervision). Then our team took individual campers in their arms and assisted them into the water to float swim, or simply sit, whatever their comfort level.

The sight-impaired campers loved everything about the beach, from the rocks beneath their feet, to the water itself, to the waves splashing up on them. They stayed in the water longer than anyone else! Some were daring, like Jimmy, who loves to float and swim face down in the water. While others, like Elisme, were content to sit in the water and repeatedly splash their face or dunk their head, grinning from ear-to-ear.