19 young people impacted by cancer attended our recent camp program on the Mornington Peninsula.
EXPLORE is a free weekend program designed for 12-17 year olds who haven’t been on a Canteen camp before. EXPLORE is a great introduction to Canteen. It gives young people a chance to meet others their age going through something similar, share their story and have a lot of fun too.
Young people impacted by cancer often feel incredibly isolated and alone and are up to six times more likely to experience depression and anxiety than their peers. Making friends with people who ‘get it’ at Canteen camp programs helps to reduce that isolation.
It was truly heartwarming to see our young people getting a much needed break from cancer. They quickly became friends as they participated in a range of fun activities such as the high ropes course and giant swing.
As our camp fell on Eid we had an all-halal celebration meal on the Friday night where one of our young people got up and spoke about the significance of Eid and Ramadan. Basketball and tennis were popular during free time, everyone loved the movie night and we had an incredibly talented volunteer who adorned our young people with gorgeous face painting.
We were touched by the inclusivity and kindness the young people showed. Most importantly, the connections forged through shared experiences were incredibly meaningful for everyone who attended.
