Patrice Murray and Isobel Eannetta enjoying their kebabs they made in the healthy living class during the Michaela Foundation Girls Summer Camp in St. Franchea’s College
THERE really are no limits for these young girls as the first Michaela Summer Camp in Fermanagh got underway this week.
Over 70 girls aged 11 to 13 flocked to St Fanchea’s College in Enniskillen this week to take part in the five-day camp which has been established by the Michaela (Harte) Foundation.
Despite it being the first Michaela camp in the county, it has generated a lot of interest with its wide-range of activities for the young girls to avail of.
From cup-cake decorating to zumba, Irish language to hair styles and fashion, and healthy eating to faith, the fun-filled camp aims to leave the ‘campettes’ equipped with a confident mind-frame and to learn the ethos of the Michaela Foundation.
A number of classrooms in the college are filled with the 23 volunteers and the ‘campettes’ who are being taught one of the five elements of the day, including how to cook healthy food and ceili dancing as well as Irish.
The core element of the camp is faith, which is the basis of the foundation, and is at the forefront of each day’s activities.
The camp hopes to instil confidence and faith in the young girls and at the end of the week, once the preparations are complete, a celebration mass concludes the camp.
Derrylin volunteer Niamh McBrien said that while it will be a hectic week she is excited to help out.
“It’s very important to do something like this as it gives something back to the community and helps spread the values of the foundation and the camp ethos,” she said.
“The camp helps the young girls to make friends and integrate with each other and learn the values that the foundation stands for.
“It will be a hive of activity, there will be cup-cake decorating, zumba, Irish-African speaking dancer, flower-arranging, hair stylists and nail art.
“They will build on their confidence and form new friendships and learn new skills they didn’t know before.
“So far it’s going really well and the first day has been so hectic, it’s been brilliant and everyone is so nice.
“I decided to volunteer after I saw the first camp in Tyrone last year and it looked absolutely wonderful to see the volunteers and campettes have fabulous time.”
One of the ‘campettes’ is 12-year-old Enniskillen girl Casey McGuinness who went along to the camp on her own, but a few hours into the first day, she had made plenty of friends.
She told the Fermanagh Herald why she wanted to take part in the Michaela camp.
“The camp looked really good and sounded fun and because I’m off school for the holidays it will fill up a bit of time,” Casey said.
“My favourite bit so far today has been the hair and fashion element which I’m interested in. I’m looking forward to baking this week and meeting more friends.
“I think camps like this are really important as you can learn a lot of new things and meet more people.
“I came here by myself today but have made loads of friends and everyone has been so nice.”
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