COMMUNITY & SERVICE Sony Camp – a rewarding experience
For the third year in a row, in December 2020, College hosted Sony Camp, with our students and St Margaret’s College students acting as companions to the young residential visitors.
that our hard work was giving the parents a well-deserved break, and that they trusted us with their children was also very rewarding. “Overall, Sony Camp serves as an important reminder of just how fortunate we are at College, and that a lot of what we take for granted comes as a struggle for others. You also get to know the other volunteers from St Margaret’s College and College itself, a lot better. “It’s an experience I would thoroughly recommend to all who have the opportunity,” says Jack.
With two years’ experience behind us, the organisers were better prepared this time for the inevitable challenges of the three days to come. Among the team helping out was 2021 Head Prefect Jack Belcher, who calls the experience of being a mentor “invaluable” and “truly eye-opening”. “I was a companion to Luke, a boy with Down’s Syndrome, along with fellow companion Yani Rutherford from St Margaret’s and mentor companion Ben Evans.
“As we navigated the various activities on offer over the three days, the greatest challenge was finding the balance between encouraging Luke to try something new, without forcing him to do something he didn’t want to do. “Through these endeavours we learnt to be patient and to empathise with the camper – for many, this was their first time sleeping away from the care of their parents. For me, the most rewarding part of the camp was seeing Luke come out of his shell, and really start to bond with us as his companions. The knowledge
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