BCVI’s summer camp for visually impaired kids

Youths from all over Belize will converge at the Stella Maris School from July twelfth to the twenty-four for a two week summer camp that is unique. It’s the fourteenth annual camp being held by the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired for kids with eye conditions and their parents. The camp is the highlight of the BCVI’s rehab program and is tailored to meet the needs of eye care patients ages three to nineteen who may not be able to participate in the other ongoing activities. But according to Carla Musa, finances are hard to come by and so they are pleading to the public to support their fundraiser. Meanwhile, Liza Zelaya, a Regional Field Officer, told us what activities the kids can look forward to this year.

Liza Zelaya, Regional Field Officer, Belize City

liza williams

“These kids will be coming in for two weeks at the Belize City Stella Maris compound. We’re doing educational; they’ll go through their brail abacus, slate and stylus in the morning. In the afternoon they will do recreation, arts and craft. And on two days we’re going to the eco-park; either Crocland or Bacab.”

Delahnie Bain

“What is the importance of having these kinds of activities for the kids with visual disorders?”

Liza Williams

“The importance of these children coming up—they are coming from all over the country.  From each district they are coming here to Belize City. It will be a new experience for them, they will learn to socialize with other people, see different environment what they’re not seeing in their community.”

carla musa

Carla Musa, Communications Officer, BCVI

“This year for summer camp we wanted to do something a little bit different. So we created a gift catalog where people who are interested in donating can flip through the catalog and actually select something that they wanted to donate to in particular. So for example you can donate to a full sponsorship of one child and his or her guardian at summer camp. This would include the lodging, any trips that they’re going on, any activities that they’re gonna do as well as all their meals at the camp. It’s really important for people to be involved in this fundraising event because this is the only means that we have of paying for our summer camps. We don’t charge any of our clients, we don’t charge any of their families and that’s pretty much the theme for our whole rehab program.”

This year’s summer camp is being held under the theme “Embracing Education”. To support the fundraiser you can call BCVI at 227-7776, visit their website at www.bcvi.org or make a deposit to Belize Bank account number 695-003-011-71088.