No Gouvia summer camp for children with special needs this year either
summer camp
12 Jul 2022
/ 09:33
CORFU. Absolutely no preparations have been made by mid-July - What the Special Needs Association has decided
The President of the Corfu Association of Parents, Guardians and Friends of People with Special Needs Spyros Zoumpoulidis says that children with special needs will again not have the opportunity to take part in the Gouvia 'Stamatis Desyllas' summer camp this year. Just like last year, these children won't have the chance to enjoy the sea and fun that they need so much, he said.
Following the Association's visit to Gouvia summer camp on 11 July, it announced that it was sad to find that, up to now, absolutely nothing has been done to ensure that the camp can open on time - only the NAOK racing boats are there - and no steps have been taken to recruit personnel or arrange food supplies.
Following the Association's visit to Gouvia summer camp on 11 July, it announced that it was sad to find that, up to now, absolutely nothing has been done to ensure that the camp can open on time - only the NAOK racing boats are there - and no steps have been taken to recruit personnel or arrange food supplies.
NAOK racing boats - Photo: Spyros Zoumpoulidis, 11/7
"Our Association considers that, especially following the resignation of the camp president Spyros Neratzis and what we saw at the site today, the Gouvia summer camp will not be able to open until at least August," Mr. Zoumpoulidis said. "This is a huge delay, despite the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity delegating the responsibility to Central Corfu Municipality and creates a pproblem in finding chldren and their necessary escorts."
Unanimous decision
"With responsibility for and respect towards safe, quality accommodation and catering for the children with special needs - our CHILDREN - the Association board has decided unanimously not to take part in the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity summer camp programme in Gouvia this year.
We should point out that other municipalities taking part in the same programme have already begun the first camp period, whereas our Association didn't take part last year either due to the long delay, once more, and the fact that there were only 9 staff instead of 32 and without the absolutely necessary camp doctor and nurse.
Our Association has sent a letter of protest, outlining the situation, to the Panhellenic Federation of Parents, Guardians and Friends of People with Special Needs Associations for them to inform the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity, which is responsible for the camp programme and its funding.
Yet again this year - just like last year - children with special needs in Corfu won't have the opportunity to take part in creative activities, have invaluable psychological support and enjoy the sea and fun that they need so much. Their parents will also not have the chance to enjoy a break or holiday or take care of any needs they may have, which they cannot do whilst looking after their children with special needs."
"Our Association considers that, especially following the resignation of the camp president Spyros Neratzis and what we saw at the site today, the Gouvia summer camp will not be able to open until at least August," Mr. Zoumpoulidis said. "This is a huge delay, despite the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity delegating the responsibility to Central Corfu Municipality and creates a pproblem in finding chldren and their necessary escorts."
Unanimous decision
"With responsibility for and respect towards safe, quality accommodation and catering for the children with special needs - our CHILDREN - the Association board has decided unanimously not to take part in the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity summer camp programme in Gouvia this year.
We should point out that other municipalities taking part in the same programme have already begun the first camp period, whereas our Association didn't take part last year either due to the long delay, once more, and the fact that there were only 9 staff instead of 32 and without the absolutely necessary camp doctor and nurse.
Our Association has sent a letter of protest, outlining the situation, to the Panhellenic Federation of Parents, Guardians and Friends of People with Special Needs Associations for them to inform the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity, which is responsible for the camp programme and its funding.
Yet again this year - just like last year - children with special needs in Corfu won't have the opportunity to take part in creative activities, have invaluable psychological support and enjoy the sea and fun that they need so much. Their parents will also not have the chance to enjoy a break or holiday or take care of any needs they may have, which they cannot do whilst looking after their children with special needs."
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