Mennonites host 150 students at Deaf Camp

Every three years the Mennonite community opens its hearts to over one hundred Belizean children giving them a week in the country and the chance to learn new skills. But as News Five found out this summer camp is special, and so are the children.

They look like typical kids sent to camp for the summer but these boys and girls are not your average children. They are deaf and have spent most of their lives in isolation. So when the children were invited to spend one week at Central Farm in the Cayo District to interact with other young people like themselves they were only too happy to travel out west. For many it was their first exposure to sign language.

The camp is organized by Sympathy for the Deaf, a Mennonite mission of Spanish Lookout. According to Frank Thiessen, the camp’s director the idea to assist the deaf came as a result of one Mennonite family’s experience.

Frank Thiessen, Director, Camp

“About fifteen years ago we had a family who had a deaf daughter. Her name is Helen Reimer. Their parents had a burden to help their own daughter and as well to help other deaf families, friends and neighbors. Eventually we formed a mission board from the churches and we started to reach out to families in the country.”

Children singing

“Everything is alright in my fathers house where there is joy, joy, joy, joy.”

Thiessen says the main goal of the camp is to create a better life for deaf people by teaching them communication skills that will empower them to function in society. Although the children have been at camp for only two days, Elma Friesen, the camp’s chief counselor says they are adapting very well.

Elma Friesen, Chief Counselor

“They are all excited. There is a few that get homesick for one week because they are not used to it but they are all excited. That’s the time they can spend with their friends and that is a time they can communicate with people because often times they can’t communicate.”

But just as the deaf are learning how to communicate, camp organizers say those in the hearing world must also reach out to those who are hearing impaired.

The camp also includes hearing impaired adults.