Special-Needs Children Reach New Heights at Camp Shalom in Ukraine

14-year-old Yuri suffers from a debilitating disease that confines him to a wheelchair. Until this summer he was homebound and had no friends or contact with the outside world, save for his mother, who—like many parents of children with special needs—has devoted herself to taking care of her son. Yuri's seclusion recently came to a euphoric end though when he and his mother spent 11 memorable days with other special-needs families at Camp Shalom. Yuri made new friends and saw the sea for the first time in his life. And he did what was once unthinkable—he started swimming.

Yuri is one of more than 140 developmentally-challenged children who, thanks to JDC and World Jewish Relief, had an opportunity this summer to enjoy time at the Sea of Asov and to communicate with nature and each other in a spiritual Jewish environment.

At Camp Shalom 2003—a retreat for special-needs children and their families—kids swam, sang, and played developmental games. For many of them, camp was a time of exploration: learning their first Hebrew song, participating in their first Kabbalat Shabbat and making their first friends, with whom they created arts and crafts, nature projects, and lasting bonds.

The kids cheered each other on through competitions and games, encouraging and supporting one another to overcome their physical and mental limitations. Playing out in the fresh air, enjoying nutritious meals and a loving, stimulating environment, the children discovered hidden talents and learned new ways to cope with their chronic illnesses.

All of the camp activities were developed by an experienced professional staff to meet the children's physical, spiritual and psychological needs, enhance their self-confidence and give them and their parents a chance to learn and grow through real day-to-day activities. This type of programming helps cultivate the spirit of Judaism in special-needs families. While youngsters of all abilities converged to experience and appreciate each other's differences, the camp provided parents an outlet to share their problems and hardships, seek advice from professional staff, and discuss how to provide their children a full, normative life.

For the 140 special-needs beneficiaries of Camp Shalom 2003, this summer on the Sea of Asov was a pivotal experience of discovery and love. In the warm, nurturing camp amidst the hills of the Eastern Ukraine, mothers watched their children play, laugh, study, and begin to dream in ways even they never thought possible.