Youth Experience Camp

This year, Rare Welfare Center held its Youth Experience Camp for two days and one night. A total of 31 teenagers, including RD patients (19 different kinds of diseases) along with their siblings, enthusiastically signed up to participate. Upon entering the Conference Hall, they were warmly welcomed by the team leaders from CHINA YOUTH CORPS. The camp staff then provided an introduction to the center's facilities and surroundings. Little P, the "CHINA YOUTH CORPS Executive Officer," guided the young team members in taking the oath and announcing the rules to be followed throughout the two-day event. Each participant wrote down their team names, team chants, and team rules on designated posters. With great enthusiasm, each team proudly shouted their team chants spiritedly, officially inaugurating the event.

The team members wrote down their interests in the handbook for them to quickly get to know each other through observation to build team synergy. Through a series of activities on the obstacle course in the afternoon, each participant's individuality was revealed. Each of them served as a small screw of the team, contributing to a successful activity and building consensus in the group.

In the evening, the most anticipated campfire gala was finally started. The team leaders sang their hearts out to bring the atmosphere to its peak. This was the first time Rare Welfare Center held an outdoor event at night. Under the starry sky, everyone quietly held a candle in their hands and shared their experiences of the day. Just when everyone thought the day was over, the executive officer suddenly invited a patient with neuroblastoma to the stage. The curtain went up and a birthday cake appeared in surprise. "I'm 12 years old now and I can do more things I want to do. Thank you, and I hope everyone is happy every day," said the patient happily.

The next day, the boys and girls got up early and were excited to go downstairs for breakfast, followed by going to the cooking class. The teacher introduced the ingredients and cooking steps in detail, and with the division of labor, the hot dishes were served one after another. "Let's eat!" Once the teacher announced, the chopsticks swarmed to the plates. Everyone was happy and satisfied with the food they had worked so hard to cook.

In the afternoon, the social worker led the group to explore themselves. Following a discussion on the 20 values, each group collectively ranked them in a mutually agreed-upon order. Subsequently, a "Value Auction" was conducted, where participants bid for the values they deemed most important within their respective groups. It was a very meaningful group sharing as everyone discussed and expressed their ideas. At sunset, all participants obtained their certificates of completion, marking the successful conclusion of this year's Youth Experience Camp.

Translator: David Lee (Becker Muscular Dystrophy)