For years, Dynamo Camp has been engaged in Recreational Therapy courses targeting children with illnesses and diseases, which have the goal of providing fun, but, more especially, of stimulating their skills and trust in themselves, with long-term benefits. The wide range of activities offered at the Camp allows sick children to encounter interests, attitudes, and skills and to develop important tools for better coping with life and the disease itself.
With a permanent base in Tuscany, through Dynamo Programs, the Dynamo staff have been able to bring the Recreational Therapy outside the Camp, benefiting children and young people who cannot reach the base because of the disease or because they reside in care homes. In this way, the Therapy has been able to reach hospitals, associations, and care homes throughout Italy - and not just in Italy, also going beyond national borders.
The project
With this project, Dynamo Camp reaches Chilean children with oncohaematological diseases hosted at the Casa Familia Foundation to offer them a Recreational Therapy course to improve their and their families’ quality of life.
Through online sessions monitored by Casa Familia staff, the Dynamo experts involve children in fun activities that range from dance to videomaking, from radio to cooking, allowing them to experience moments of light-heartedness and social interaction that their stay in hospital often hinders.
The activities proposed can also stimulate the integration and inclusion of children from cultural contexts however different, encouraging cultural exchange between Italy and Chile.
The beneficiaries
Six Chilean children from 10 to 14 years participated in the first session of Recreational Therapy laboratories. Guided by specialist staff, these kids were involved in activities to develop trust in themselves and team spirit to achieve given goals.
The second session involved another 10 Chilean children, who were joined by 5 Italian children for cultural exchange activities with a strong emotional impact.
Project name: Dynamo Camp and the impact of Recreational Therapy to benefit Chilean children
Proposing organisation: Dynamo Camp Foundation (nonprofit organisation)
Area of intervention: Inclusion & Social Development