Camp participants enjoy the challenge of abseiling.
Camp activities help  foster confidence, self-esteem and teamwork.
Camera IconCamp participants enjoy the challenge of abseiling. Camp activities help foster confidence, self-esteem and teamwork. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Camp changing lives

Declan ByrneComment News

The teenagers abseiled down sheer cliff faces, explored deep, dark caves and built rafts, all in the name of self-development.

Kwinana Corps officer and camp leader Peter Jones said the camp aimed to foster the teenagers’ confidence, self-esteem and teamwork.

“We saw a lot of kids come with a very low self-esteem, depression – ‘I can’t do anything, I’m no good, I can’t do it’ – to at the end of the week seeing them go off of a cliff thinking ‘I can do this’,” he said.

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“We were there for eight days… it was a joy.”

Mr Jones said he didn’t consider the camp as work, but a life-changing experience.

“Day to day it’s a job, but to see people change and be involved, especially with kids because they’re at the beginning of their lives and to see them change is very rewarding for myself, that’s why I do it,” he said.

He said he would take many fond memories from the camp, but one in particular stood out.

“There was one girl, sitting down talking and she just said ‘thank you, you’ve been an inspiration for me on this camp, for being there, for encouraging me and taking me on a journey’. That was rewarding.”

Sponsor Tim Guest hoped more Perth businesses would donate some of their profits to charitable organisations.

“I have a very different view about business and this is something I’d really like to put a rocket up other business leaders of Perth,” he said.

“We are part of the community and I feel obliged to give back.

“How can I live a great life if there are people around me who are suffering?”