BuyClub.ch: BuyClubbers Charity Action: Summer Camp for Rafael, an Autistic Child

Hundreds of BuyClubbers opened their hearts in December 2013, bringing alive the wish of Guillaume - a child recovering from cancer. Today we’d like to harness the amazing power of our community to bring a little summer-miracle for another Geneva boy who needs it.

Meet Rafael!
When you first meet him, Rafael seems like any other 11-year old boy: he loves being outside, rollerblading, running around and climbing over anything he sees. He builds Lego towers taller than himself. He makes elaborate forts from bed sheets, allowing him to then observe others whilst remaining hidden inside. But take a closer look and you realize Rafael is different.

Rafael's Own World

Rafael has autism. He lives in his own internal world, which only he truly understands, and is unable to communicate with others. So he can't make friends, is completely dependent on others (especially his family) in all aspects of daily life, and can't attend mainstream-school. His moods can change suddenly from extreme happiness to deep agitation for reasons only he understands. And through it all, he's surrounded by amazing love.

Meet his Loving Family!
Rafael, his parents, little sister & baby brother live in Geneva. They focus their lives on Rafael’s well-being, accepting the sacrifices that come with it: Rafael’s parents fight daily to ensure he receives the best possible education; they can’t go on vacation together; they're rarely able to invite friends over. There are also serious financial implications: special education is very expensive, and his parents' earning power has been reduced due to the additional care requirements.

Our Mission: Send Rafael to Camp this Summer
Rafael’s family would love him to attend the All Special Kids (ASK) Summer Day Camp this year, but the financial burden is just too heavy. ASK’s Summer Camp is dedicated to children with learning differences and special educational needs. With a 1:1 camper to staff ratio, multi-sensory activities, art, drama, drumming and tutoring, ASK’s camp provides a safe haven for special children, allowing them to thrive, make friends and have the fun they deserve.

Our target: raise CHF 7'200
Sending one child to ASK’s Summer Camp, for 1 month, costs CHF 3,600. We want to sponsor a month for Rafael and for another special child who needs it. 100% of your donations today will go to ASK to support this cause.

If more money is raised, it will go towards sponsoring a month of summer camp with ASK for more kids.

About ASK

ASK is a non-profit Swiss-registered association providing support services to families who have children with learning differences and special educational needs. ASK is a one-stop resource for parents, schools and specialists, offering fully-integrated programmes such as Summer Camp, which help develop the necessary social and study skills to allow special children to reach their full potential.

Have a great summer!