Camp Diabetes - A Leadership Camp for Teens

Four Students were sent to a Teen Camp in New Brunswick to learn leadership skills, to gain information about diseases affecting teens (diabetes for one), and to become adept at assisting those who have illnesses of varied nature.

In the spring of 2009 a parent had lamented the lack of support for young diabetics on the island of St. Lucia. Since there are more diabetics per capita in St. Lucia than on other islands, this was indeed a challenge.

After researching various ideas about how to help teens with the disease, a Gros Islet Rotarian came upon a camp, set in the forests of New Brunswick Canada. This camp was used to train students to handle the concerns of diabetes, and other diseases and was supported by the Fredericton Rotary Club. By attending this camp students would become better informed about their disease, meet other teens like themselves, and become more confident in leadership.

On behalf of the Club the Rotarian called New Brunswick and worked with the camp organizers to get permission to send two diabetic students to the camp, with the idea of training them to run a diabetic camp here in St. Lucia. Partial funding came from the Piton Foundation of Switzerland.

The Rotary Club of Gros Islet helped to fund the air fares and camp fees for two additional students. The four students came from varied schools and areas. They were excited about their experiences and plan to go back next summer and complete their training.

The teens will be requesting funding from the Rotary Club of Gros Islet next summer to return to the camp for the two more weeks of training.

By 2011, it is hoped that a teen camp for long term illnesses will be set up in St. Lucia, using these teens as leaders and developers of the program. Assistance will be requested from the Rotary Clubs in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and from other Rotary Clubs on the island.