Children who live in homes where domestic violence also lives can be stuck in a neverending cycle of lifelong abuse.
Help Now of Osceola County has a mentoring program for those primary or secondary victims — Pathway to Hope.
During the school year, the group does a monthly function, fun experiences they normally wouldn’t get the opportunity to experience like an Orlando Solar Bears hockey game, said Hope Now’s Primary Prevention Specialist, Christina Montalvo.
“It’s a mentorship program,” she said. “The goal is for them to see hope positivity and mentorship and show they aren’t alone in this.”
With school ending soon, it’s time for a fun summertime event, and Pathway to Hope will be going again a sleep-away week of camp June 5-10. Last year was the first year for it, and Montalvo said the dozen or so campers ages 6-11 who went on it made great strides.
“Last year was so much fun just to see the kids grow,” she said. “The last day is the hardest, we have to go home, and it sets in that home isn’t like this. In the course of the week you get to see how they view their life, how they view their future, and how to make it more positive.”
As the name implies, the trip is about finding hope in their surroundings and in those with them who have or are experiencing the same acts of violence in their lives.
“We ask, ‘Where did you see hope today?’” Montalvo said. “Even if it’s the tiniest thing; someone helped them make their bed. Although sometimes it’s, the counselor helped me do the zip line, because I was scared.
“The idea is to given them a chance to go to camp, and be around other kids who have experienced the same things. It’s where we hope they can find a level of security and hope in the other kids who are like them.”
Local businesses and officials have provided support in providing the children the supplies needed to go to camp. For those who would like to help in their community and donate camping and craft items for this year’s trip, an Amazon list has been created at: https://amzn.to/3O1vsNW.
Donations can be dropped of at Help Now on Church Street, across the street from Kissimmee City Hall.
