It ROLLS – Kids Camp and Medical Follow up Week October 2022

After a short summer break, the time had come again and in Haydom it was time to roll – under the motto “No Bounderies” more than 60 children and their parents came to the aftercare week in Haydom.

Not only all bounderies have been overcome, but also hundreds of kilometers, whether by bus, motorcycle, wheelchair or skateboard. The focus of this week was on mobility and self-determination.

Together with the local team and Dr Theresa, the children were given medical care and the parents were taught the necessary skills in continence management. Special attention was paid to teaching the older children to catheterize themselves, which is an important requirement for going to school. Our little heroes mastered this under guidance brilliantly.

Then it got action-packed, because not only basketballs and wheelchairs but also skateboards, children and parents rolled over specially built ramps and obstacles. Under the supervision of two professional skaters from Arusha, who run a skate park there, and accompanied by music from large loudspeakers and lots of laughter and good humor, not only barriers were overcome, but also fears and a lot of prejudices.

Self-determined mobility and movement is extremely important for the development of every child. This is often denied to children with Spina Bifida, as many often do not own a wheelchair or cannot use it properly in everyday life. However, the fact that a wheelchair is anything but an obstacle and that it can be used to do cool tricks and skate at speed over ramps was more than impressively demonstrated by the kids.

In addition to the skating talents, there were also little basketball heroes and sports stars. Once again it became clear that sport unites and helps to cross borders, which often start in the head.

Together with the local team and in cooperation with the team of Smallsteps_Skatepark, a skate and sports park for integrative sports and integrative skating will be built here soon. For this Haydom-Friends e.V. and its partners are looking for more active sponsors and supporters to realize this dream. It has already come true a little bit when you look into the shining eyes and laughing faces our Haydom children today.