DLS-CSB SOS 2009 Deaf Youth Summer Camp

Day 1 and Day 2

Days 3,4,& 5

Days 6 & 7

Aiming to build camaraderie among the Deaf youth and to have a worthwhile socio-cultural and psycho-spiritual summer activity suited for Filipino Deaf youth, 61 Deaf teenagers from School of the Deaf in Iligan City, La Salle University (LSU), Ozamiz City, the Columban priests-run Hangop Kabataan Inc., Pagadian City, Dumagete High School and Malaybalay Welcome Home gathered for a six-day Deaf Youth Summer Camp April 23-28, 2009.
The Deaf Youth Summer Camp is part of the annual program spearheaded by the brothers of the Gualandi Mission for the Deaf Cebu City. The activity was incorporated by the yearly Summer of Service Training of the De La Salle-Colege of Saint Benilde School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies.
Other goals of the annual activity are to experience a camp-out away from their family and friends in order to gain some sense of independence and self-confidence, to create a pool of young Deaf leaders devoted to empower fellow Deaf youth and to establish linkages among Deaf youth groups from difference places.
The Summer Camp for the Deaf Students was held at the LSU Oval had Ariscel Lobo and Anabelle Salazar both Deaf faculty of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Manila together with Bro. Helrie Paduga, PMS, and Bro. Nino Cababat, PMS from the Gualandi Mission for the Deaf, Cebu City as facilitators.
Each day had various activities with special emphasis on the spiritual formation for the Deaf, Deaf culture, Deaf Counseling, Deaf Values, Sports Competitions, Film Viewing of Deaf Empathy, Camp Skills learning like native chicken cooking and giant kite making.
Lobo led the sports competitions, while Salazar expounded the Deaf values and the two brothers from Mission for the Deaf spearheaded the Camp Skills Learning.
The Deaf Summer Camp started and culminated with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at LSU Chapel officiated by LSU chaplain Fr. Timmy Ruben with Sarah Talibong and Bro. Helrie Paduga, PMS interpreting the Mass using the sign language.
“A deaf person regardless of his or her difficulties in hearing and speaking still has a place in the society," Sarah Talibong.