Williams Syndrome Association of Ireland

In June 2005, I was asked if I would be interested in volunteering for a Music Summer Camp for people with William’s Syndrome.  I knew nothing about William’s Syndrome – hadn’t even heard of it in fact but agreed to go along to teach Drama. 

11 campers with William’s Syndrome, 13 helpers, 7 tutors, 2 organisers, 6 family members / companions and a very small boy congregated in the Share Centre’s dining area at 5.30pm one July evening.  The campers were delighted and excited at the prospect of the week ahead and the mood was one of celebration and welcome to all.   

The Music Camp consists of scheduled classes in the mornings, a group session after tea-break, then lunch.  Optional Share Centre activities are available in the afternoons such as pottery, t-shirt printing, banana boating, film-making, swimming, go-carting, rock-climbing, fuzz-ball and much more. 

Evenings were organised within the group and included sing-along music sessions, a volunteer entertainment night, a slide-show of two campers’ trip to a summer camp in Norway organised by the European Federation of Williams Syndrome Associations (FEWS), a disco, a lively drama of Grease, relaxation sessions and a shopping expedition.  Saturday night saw a production of The Wizard of Oz where every member of the group participated.  We played to an audience of 40 other Share visitors who laughed and tapped their feet and “oopsed” along with us.  This for me was the culmination of an over-whelming week of camaraderie.  I cannot begin to put into words the warmth I felt throughout. 

The evening of the finale, as it got closer to curtain-up, it became apparent to me that my usual pre-show panic wasn’t happening.  Why?  Because as I readied the cast with costumes and painted faces, the volunteers seemed to be taking turns to ask what they could do to help.  It was all hands willingly on deck – and that is a rarity in the cut-throat world of show-business!  I was in awe as I found myself surrounded by a tornado of support.  Many of the cool-character under 20’s volunteers would not be seen dead on-stage – yet there they were in Munchkinland singing “Ding dong the Witch is Dead” with all the enthusiasm they could muster.  I was in awe. 

In the special needs world “integration” has suddenly become a buzz-word.  Many think this means we must put our special children into mainstream schools, fight for funding for a Special Needs Assistant and sit them in the far corner of the classroom – all done and dusted.  Wrong.  Integration – the real McCoy, is what I observed at the Share Centre in Lisnaskea where helpers, campers, teachers and holiday-makers danced and sang their hearts out, chatted, laughed and enjoyed each others company because with this week comes the beginning of many friendships.

The camp was initiated in 2001 by Ann Breen to facilitate the musical abilities that many people with Williams Syndrome have, giving them the opportunity to learn in one-to-one and small group environments within a relaxed holiday atmosphere.  For the fifth year, this has been a success.  However, I believe that we the volunteers are the ones who walk away with the most valuable lessons in our pockets – I can’t put it into words, but I’m going to cherish mine.

Fiona O’Leary

Drama Teacher

Last modified: February 01, 2006