Sighisoara, 4-8.09.2017 – After the success of June/July Summer Camp, the volunteers of Kinderland wanted to give the kids another opportunity to have fun and get some exercise before the school opening. This is how the idea of an Autumn Camp was born. Another week of games, team-playing and bonding. Now the camp has finished, but the memories kids made this week will be everlasting. Our volunteers worked hard as usual to make sure everyone had a good experience and, as usual, they did not disappoint.
Starting from Monday they welcomed all the kids at the Kid’s Club, and they were full of energy. They started with games, jumping ropes, pulling ropes, drawing, chasing, and spinning; all of it in one day. They even included artwork with crayons and paints. It was a surprise even to them that they could mix different kinds of art supplies and get such beautiful results. But it was on the third day of camp that kids were more active then ever. They played games, worked as a team and created art on simple stones. Every day is a new challenge for them and they are always ready to take it. Overall, it was a crazy, joyful week, one of those weeks that tire you a lot but in a very good way.
Tired and happy, our volunteers closed the week with a Flash Mob dance in the citadel, and the entire Wild Carpathia team took part in it.
Imagine a warm, quiet Friday afternoon in the citadel of Sighisoara. You are sipping up your coffee, smoking a cigarette, enjoying the view. There is a small touristic train in the middle of the square, and people take pictures all around. At some point, music starts playing. You know something’s about to happen, you just still don’t know what.
Well, Wild Carpathia happened. After practicing the dance all week, we and our delightful kids performed it as a Flash Mob in the citadel. While it grieves me saying that the kids were far better than us even with a single day of practice, it is undoubtful that everybody had fun and enjoyed the experience of going back in time a little bit. Some of us enjoyed it so much that they replicated it in Medias Bike Marathon (read all about the marathon here).
This was the closing ceremony of a beautiful experience, and we are sure that both kids and parents will remember it.
So what was Camp for the volunteers and for the community?
It is surely not just a great way for kids to spend their free time, but also for grown-ups to get inspiration and energy from kids. Kids give you back what you give them; if what you give them is good energy and smile, they will return it doubled. Whoever went to see them playing, even as a spectator, couldn’t help but getting carried away with their energy and positivity.
But the very best thing about Camp was the fact that kids created a true bond with the volunteers. After all, this is what our activities are all about: leaving a mark in the community, leaving a good memory and making kids and parents remember our volunteers, who come from all over Europe only for this, as part of a very good experience. Kinderland did wonderful work in this respect, and this is our biggest success. Because whenever kids meet the volunteers again, anyone can see how attached they are to them. They have a real connection.
Article by: Daina Laizane and Michaela Sergi
Pictures by: Daina Laizane
