This year, Le Pont broke fresh ground, offering our families a new summer activity – a day camp!

Written by Alessandra Santopadre, Assistant, Office of Cultural and Ritual Communities

Getting access to day camps can be difficult for newcomer families, since they can be so expensive and may be already fully booked… here in Quebec, the whole issue gets challenging fast! Fortunately, thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and interns and to donations that were placed at our disposal, we were once again able to outdo ourselves and offer ten young people, aged three to 12, a full week of activities.

Personalized T-shirts, water games, treasure hunts, decorating flowerpots... Never a dull moment!  

The idea for the camp came about when we realized that our families, and particularly the children, needed a space where they could get together, especially after the lockdown period. Day camps often charge fees, and families with two or three children cannot always afford them, so our free camp gave them the possibility.

The week also gave us the chance to reconnect with families who had taken part in Le Pont’s activities some months or, in certain cases, some years ago. 

Thanks primarily to the various support projects provided for asylum seekers, we were able to resume contact with families throughout the lockdown. These projects allowed us to keep in touch, listening to their needs and their requests, and at the same time witnessing their desire to persevere in building their future in spite of the obstacles. These families held on to hope and joy, and particularly to the gratitude they feel for our assistance. 
 

The children have gotten bigger, they are speaking French and have made new friends; their parents take some time to talk with us each morning.

And although it was one of the hottest weeks of the summer, we had some unforgettable experiences, and our hope is that we were able to create some joyful moments and happy memories for these children who have come from so far away, who have lived through great difficulties, and sometimes lost some of their childhood along the way, in the course of their migratory journeys.

Le Pont will be there again next year for another day camp! "Next year I want a camp that lasts 30 years!’’ says nine-year-old Retal, ‘’…eh, I mean 30 days!’’