Why we do camps

Children are at the heart of every family and community. Wherever you go, activities that include this section of society are well received and enjoyed by everyone. Sport is acknowledged as a great way for children to interact, learn key social and physical skills, and develop their whole character.

OM SportsLink believes first that sport has value in itself and that teaching and encouraging young people to do sport has great benefit for society. At the same time, sport offers opportunities to teach good life skills and moral standards.

Through our camps we first hope to make long-term impact into communities where our teams work. A short camp offers a great opportunity for athletes/coaches to make friends with kids from all sections of society and therefore begin to relate to the community as a whole. Children and adults who may otherwise end up in gangs or taking drugs have a chance to change their lifestyles and head in a better direction in their lives directly through the impact of sports camps.

We can provide quality coaching and also equipment that young people and children would not have access to normally. These benefits are not just good for the participants, but also for the whole community where we work.

"My son went to the adventure camp and came back a changed person! He is respectful at home, wants to find a job, and admits that he was with the wrong crowd. Thank you!"

The mother of Anthony, a young fast bowler who attended a camp in Pakistan a few years ago.

Ukraine

At the end of the summer, OM Ukraine's sports team was asked to help with a church youth camp in the Vinnitsa region. Saron Mack and Anton, a volunteer from a local church, were requested to teach a daily class in ropes and rappelling (abseiling). After travelling many hours by train with several heavy bags full of ropes and equipment from another camp they were helping with, the team arrived in Vinnitsa and travelled by bus and on foot to the camp site, several kilometres away from the main roads.

On the first day, only a few timid people came for the class. However, word spread quickly through the camp and each day more and more campers came to try their hand at rappelling. The class lasted anywhere from 4-6 hours each day, and it was interesting to see how people learned to overcome their fears and trust the ropes and God to keep them safe on the cliff. Quite a few of those who were boastful at the foot of the cliff were suddenly scared and reluctant at the top. But, those with humility and a willingness to learn something new were able to enjoy the experience of sliding down the cliff face.

The class was a blessing to the camp and challenged people to face their fears and overcome them with God's help. In these situations, faith becomes more real because your life is literally on the line!