Stephanie was 6 years old when she came to us through a local women’s shelter as a member of our Summer Day Camp in 2010.  Stephanie’s mom had recently escaped an abusive relationship where Stephanie was victimized by both physical and emotional abuse.  When she first started attending camp, she was violent and would spent the first hour of each day trying to run away from camp, to the point where staff had to start locking doors and putting bolt latches on other doors to keep her from running off.  She would not speak to male staff at all and would barely speak to female staff.

With the help of our great staff, Stephanie was given opportunities to lead activities and assist staff with tasks, gaining her trust and helping her develop skills.  She was also allowed to pick activities and even create her own photo exhibition during our talent show, giving her some of the control she had never had in her life.  By the end of our Fall Program, Stephanie was fully participating in all activities, including singing in the Riverdale Share holiday concert.  She openly talks to and trusts the staff, socializes and helps the other kids, and has a constant smile on her face!  The days of running away and hitting are long gone, and the change in her in just 6 months has been amazing!

Stephanie’s mom tells of our success in her own words:

“My daughter, Stephanie, used to be an extremely shy child, and at her first daycare she developed an ongoing separation-anxiety.

In early 2010 I left an abusive relationship, and Stephanie and I moved into a shelter in a new neighbourhood. Unfortunately, after this change, Stephanie’s shyness and separation-anxiety became severe.  Stephanie didn’t want to talk to any adults, neither at the shelter nor at her new school, she became anxious, clingy, and she usually hid behind my back.  However, Stephanie enjoyed playing with other kids at the shelter and at her school.

In 2010 summer the shelter’s child advocate helped me enrol Stephanie in a summer camp at BCYG.  At camp, first Stephanie was very shy and would not let me leave her there for one hour.  At times she would hit me, or she would hit one of the staff members, and would follow me out of the camp, but at the end of each day she seemed content, although she said that she didn’t like camp.

Working closely with BCYG staff: setting new boundaries, listening to Stephanie’s needs and giving her the power and control to choose between activities helped Stephanie overcome her clinginess and aggressive behaviour, and started enjoying herself at camp.  Today, Stephanie is a happy camper, and she looks forward to her next camp experience in March 2011.  Thanks to BCYG’s affordability Stephanie will continue to enjoy the benefits of the youth group.  Thank you BCYG!”

You can help send Stephanie to camp in 2011!

With your tax-deductible donation to Kaleidoscope Kids, you can help send Stephanie to one of our camps or programs in 2011.  Donate today and help Stephanie get a great start!

You can donate now using your credit card through PayPal, or download the Donation Pledge Form here if you wish to donate by mail.