OperationSAFE camps are designed to be very flexible because the situation on the ground in post-disaster settings is often still very fluid. We found this to be especially true in Yushu.  Even with the loss of most of the children to a sudden summer holiday, the team adjusted and continued the camp and actually found it to be more effective as the volunteers were able to spend more concentrated time with the children who had no where else to go.

As the second night of camp wrapped up, I heard stories from each volunteer talking about how their relationships with the children had grown and developed.  One volunteer had stated flatly the day before that all of his kids were “fine” and they probably didn’t need any trauma care at all.  But after the second day he saw that these children had lots of needs and hurts just under the surface.  During the story time discussion a couple of children had tears and opened up with their crew leaders about their own fears and loss.  Even with all of the difficulties, it was starting to happen.  The connections were being made and love was finding its way through every barrier.

The team would spend two more days with the children but I had to hurry back to Japan.  As I hugged them goodbye I knew that despite all of the setbacks and changes, the crucial work that we had come to do was being accomplished, these children would know that they are loved and would receive hope for the future.