Srce za djecu - Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation after Hospital Treatment

Therapeutic recreation for body and mind that has been implemented for full 12 years

Cancer treatment is a very long, hard and traumatic process that requires continuous and long-term isolation of the child from society and always results in a disruption of normal childhood. These children lack their home, their immediate environment and all those activities that other children freely engage in. Upon completion of the hospital part of treatment, the children return to their immediate environment and it is very often that they have problems with re-socialisation and stigmatisation.

Every year, the Association provides a specially designed programme of a rehabilitation camp for children who were treated for cancer and their parents. The entire program is free of charge, including accommodation, food, activities and medical care. The rehabilitation camp is funded by donations, grants and activities of the Association.

CAMP GOALS

Strengthening immunity, resistance and physical endurance of children
Psychosocial strengthening
Strengthening confidence, self-esteem and inclusion in a peer group
Increasing independence, self-confidence, openness to new things and experiences
Social strengthening – positive group influence, re-socialisation and return to their immediate environment
Reducing stress and anxiety; encouraging creative expression and positive attitude
Strengthening family ties
Raising awareness of child cancer and of the consequences of treatment

CAMP ACTIVITIES

morning exercise
riding school
sports activities / family olympics
psychological and pedagogical workshops
creative and fine arts workshops for making postal stamps
social games, fun time, talent show, tacky jewellery show
walks
bicycling
socialisation
nutritionist workshops and professional medical counselling for parents
physiotherapy for children and parents
team building
demonstration exercises with camp guests

Camp programme activities are based on emotional needs of children who were treated for cancer and their parents, brothers and sisters, as well as on the physical and mental aspects of their adjustment after the end of treatment. Rehabilitation and camp programme activities contribute to the establishment of psychological ties between parents who share similar experiences and treatment protocols. The camp allows them to better cope with their situation while also providing training and psychosocial assistance to the entire family. By participating in recreational and therapeutic activities, the families spend time together and have an opportunity to get to know one another better and to network, creating thereby their own support network for the future.

The therapeutic rehabilitation and recreation programme is also intended for children with cancer who are still on maintenance therapy and whose condition and treatment still requires isolation to a certain extent. In this way, these children have an opportunity to stay on the mountain with their close family, re-connecting with the outside world and making their first steps towards integration into the community.

Donors of the 2017 Rehabilitation Camp