The kids get to see other children who are going through the same things at the same depth that they have suffered. They see the staff and volunteers; they see the caring – that they want them to go on even if never whole again, that there is a reason to go on and be good and not become like the people who kill our family members.
Taking kids who may be lost or don’t know how to express themselves or don’t know how to put a word to the feeling they are having and giving them a place and an outlet to do so. Kind of putting those pieces that they may feel are broken back together.
As with a lot of tragedies that happen with kids, they feel alone. They feel like no one understands them, that “I’m the only one that can feel this way.” They may feel ashamed to express themselves or embarrassed with their friends or other people who don’t necessarily understand. So giving them a place where they can meet with others that feel that way and can validate their feelings . . . they don’t feel ashamed to feel the way they do: anger, guilt, sadness, all those things. They can take that and move forward knowing they’re not alone.
My hero is . . . My family, like my mom and dad. Just even coming here and seeing all of these kids, it’s probably the most eye-opening thing. It’s like how young they are and how wise they are so I think that really the most inspiring thing to me in this moment is right now. Superhero qualities I see in myself after participating in Camp Sheilah . . . Being inspired to change. That’s a huge issue and hearing the Doyles speak about the problems that are going on in the city and how it is a problem that continues to get worse, I think I’m definitely inspired to change or to take action and try to influence change even if it’s sending one kid to camp or whatever it is to try to raise awareness of this issue. Rising strong means to me . . . Reinforcing what these kids know already. It’s important for them to just have an organization and other people to share these times with. I’ve only been doing this for two years, but even seeing in one year the amount of growth from some of the kids.
