Ireland's first ever European Youth Exchange summer camp for young people with Williams Syndrome has been launched.

Williams syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects around one in every 20,000 births and currently affects about 100 families in Ireland. Those with the syndrome have some degree of learning disability and can also have other health issues, such as heart and musculoskeletal problems.

This new camp has been organised by the Williams Syndrome Association of Ireland (WSAI) and will take place in Limerick next week. Some 80 people from 11 different European countries will attend.

The camp is targeted at people with the syndrome who are aged between 13 and 30 and the theme is ‘Our Music, Our Culture'. Activities will include music and theatre workshops, an introduction to Gaelic games and day trips.

"We chose music and culture as the theme for the camp because almost all people with Williams Syndrome have hyper-sensitive hearing and some have perfect pitch and extraordinary musical talents. Throughout the week of the camp, we will be nurturing participants' musical talent and their love of different types of music," explained WSAI founder and honorary president, Ann Breen.

Ms Breen's daughter, Karen, has Williams syndrome and is in her 30s. She explained that when Karen was very young, it became clear that she loved music and it calmed her down if she was upset.

"As she got older, we brought her to music camps abroad a number of times, and that's when we discovered she has perfect pitch. She plays the keyboard, composes her own music, and has very definite opinions about the type of music she does and doesn't like.

"The joy Karen gets from music inspired me to set up music summer camps for other people with Williams Syndrome," Ms Breen said.

This upcoming camp marks the first time that the European Federation of Williams Syndrome Associations will hold this annual event in Ireland. It is funded through the Erasmus and Youth Exchange Programme.

For more information on the syndrome and the WSAI, click here