Palestine – Gaza swim camp helps autistic children to integrate into society

Location: Northern Beach Camp – Gaza – Palestine

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:05:32

Sound: natural

Source: A24 Gaza

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 02/07/2022

Storyline:

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from the Gaza Strip take part in a swim camp aimed to help them to integrate into society.

40 children participate in the week-long summer camp, organized by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.

The camp also aims to encourage and teach autistic children to overcome their fear of water and overcome the difficulties they have been facing.

swimming also could help children with autism improve their self-esteem, speech, coordination, social skills and even cognitive abilities.

Reem Jarur, director of Swim Camp for Autistic Children, tells A24 News Agency that parents were afraid to put their children in water but the children themselves were surprised they managed to enter the water.

Mothers express their happiness at the results, saying they were thrilled that their children were exposed to many other children who are facing similar challenges.

They call for constant support for autistic children, who need more and other activities as well.

A Mother of autistic child Tamer Al-Safadi told A24 News Agency that she tried to register her son in many summer camps with other children, but her requests have always been rejected because of her child’s illness.

Shotlist:

– Soundbite (Reem Jarur – Director of Swim Camp for Autistic Children)

            “We wanted our target group to be autistic children because it is marginalized and are discriminated against in society and sports. It was chaotic during camp because parents were afraid to put their children in water, and they were concerned about the coach handling them properly. The children were surprised they managed to enter the water, as there were many colors outside the swimming pool distracting them. The first day was difficult but after the fifth day, progress was evident in the children and their families.”

– Soundbite (Mother of Khalid Youn – Mother of an autistic child):

            “My son was terrified of water, overcoming his fear is a great achievement. We have to continue with the lessons so that my son never fear the water again. I call for constant support for autistic children, who need more than one or two weeks of swimming lessons, they need other activities as well.”

– Soundbite (Yousef Abu Ajwa – Autistic child):

            “I learned to freestyle and breaststroke swimming. I’m a swimming trainee and I teach children to be fast learners and swim like me. I am happy when I play in the water.”

– Soundbite (Mother of Tamer Al-Safadi – Mother of an autistic child)

            “When I brought my son here for the first time, he was crying and refusing to enter the water. He later overcame his fear of water and started to get along with other boys. Now my son prepares his clothes and packs his bag at seven in the morning, then heads to the pool to have fun. I feel such joy to see him so happy. I tried several times to register him for swimming lessons, but was never allowed because of his autism. I don’t understand the discrimination against autistic children, they are not different, they just have difficulty speaking.”