Just Footprints takes another step forward
In yet another first for Just Footprints Foundation, siblings of children with special needs enjoyed a
4-day camp at the Kwalata Adventure Centre in Dinokeng.
Although camps have previously been held for siblings of children diagnosed with cancer or
life threatening blood disorders, this is the first time that the siblings of special needs’ children have
been catered for.
Just Footprints Foundation chairperson, Leoné Jooste, says: “Children who are members of
special needs families face unique challenges.
They become aware from a very young age that
they need to take extra care of and responsibility
for their special needs’ sibling. This has a
profound impact on all aspects of their
childhood.”
The camp was a colourful and “arty”
affair, run in collaboration with The Hope Trust
and with sponsorship from the National
Lotteries Commission. The theme of South
African cultures provided lots of scope for
creativity with different food (including mopani
worms!), dress, music, games, dancing and
singing.
These were in addition to the Camp Footprints usual activities of game drives in
Dinokeng, swimming and water games.
The special needs’ children, whose siblings enjoyed such fun at
Camp Footprints, attend the three
Sunshine Association early
intervention centres in
Craighall Park, Eldorado
Park and Elsburg. These
centres offer specialised
stimulation and early
intervention programmes
catering specifically to the
needs of children with developmental delays and
intellectual/physical disabilities.
New Western Cape venue brings fresh activities
Children from the Western Cape diagnosed with cancer or life threatening blood disorders were
once again given the opportunity to enjoy four days of fun-filled activity and special moments.
Just Footprints Foundation’s 67 th camp
was held at Bergkroon Christian Centre in
Baineskloof, near Wellington – the first time
that JFF camps in this province have not been
held at the sea. This meant somewhat
different activities for the children, including
making beaded bracelets with a JFF-branded
clasp (pictured right), fun sports and the ever-
popular swimming. This came with a farmyard
experience with sheep, chickens, 2 huge pigs,
goats and two of our very own national
emblem springbok pronking around the camp
site.
Children receiving treatment at the
Tygerberg, Red Cross Children’s and Groote Schuur Hospitals were chosen in collaboration with
CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA to attend the camp.
Our 6th Gauteng sibling camp, also in collaboration with CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation
and their national psychosocial team was held at Dinokeng in May. JFF were thrilled to host double
the number of siblings compared to previous sibling camps.
“Beaded” collars add to the fun
Our 6th Gauteng sibling camp, also in collaboration with CHOC Childhood
Cancer Foundation and their national psychosocial team was held at
Dinokeng in May. JFF were thrilled to host double the number of siblings
compared to previous sibling camps.
JFF hosted another arts and culture camp sponsored by
National Lotteries Commission, and in partnership with The Hope Trust,
with our special friends from Casa do Sol School. Fun art activities
included making ‘beaded’ collars (pictured left) from paper plates and
castanets from bottle tops, with marimbas, trombones and drumming causing
great excitement and much noise!!
African delegates gather in the Dinokeng bush
Just Footprints Foundation was on the global map recently when an “All African regional meeting”
of the SeriousFun Children’s Network (www.seriousfunnetwork.org.) Global Partnership Programme
(GPP) took place at Kwalata Lodge in
Dinokeng Game Reserve.
Eighteen participants from
eight other African countries attended
the meeting, with JFF Chairperson
Leoné Jooste, Executive Director
Operations Lindy Nieuwenhuizen and
Camp Director Lize van Vuuren
representing the South African
organisation.
On the agenda was plenty of
valuable sharing of resources and
skills, as well as of best camp practices
and programmes.
JFF is now an official member of the GPP of SeriousFun Children’s Network.
A busy year with new initiatives planned
Just Footprints Foundation has a busy year ahead with camps planned for children diagnosed with
cancer or life threatening blood disorders in KwaZulu Natal and Pretoria as well as camps for
children infected with HIV in KZN and Gauteng.
Other camps will be for orphans and vulnerable children in Gauteng and KZN and for children
with special needs from various organisations in Johannesburg.
An outreach programme, which aims to affirm the power of the camping experience, will be
a new initiative later in the year.
Just Footprints will be hosting four such programmes at three organisations whose children
have attended a Camp Footprints camp.
The fourth outreach programme will be an ‘in hospital’ programme where JFF will host a day
in a paediatric oncology ward with fun camp activities for in-hospital young patients.