Youth are and will remain a significant share of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population for many years to come. The failure to provide opportunities for this large generation will have enormous economic, cultural, political and social consequences! Engaging youth fully in the region’s development is thus, not a matter of choice, but rather an imperative.
I just returned from an amazing 2 weeks in South Africa where I saw first hand how Global Camps Africa is supporting the well-being of young people and transforming youth development in South Africa. The organization is committed to empowering children through leadership and life skills building through a multi- dimensional 10 day “summer camp” experience. The camp, which is named Camp Sizanani, is located on a private boarding school campus outside of Johannesburg in the Magaliesburg Mountain area. Sizanani, is Zulu for “help each other,” and four to six times a year up to 140 children affected by HIV/AIDS will be able to experience the wonders of camp and take part in some serious fun. One of the camps motto’s was serious fun… and FUN was an understatement! The minute these children bounded off the bus the air was filled with exuberance, enthusiasm and camaraderie that was intoxicating and pervaded the entire camp experience.
These beautiful and gifted children are given an opportunity to just be kids and have fun. The endless days were filled with opportunities to participate in: sports and adventure- where the kids got to experience the power of sports and play as an effective tool for teambuilding and health. They created masterpieces in many forms in the Arts and Crafts studio. They let their creative juices flow in front of a live audience in Theater and Drumming. If there was a talent scout in the audience many of them would be going straight to HOLLYWOOD! They were taught about nutrition and the important foods our body’s needs to grow and develop in Nutrition. They swam everyday and most of them learned to swim for the first time- many of the children had never been in a pool or saw water before arriving at camp. I was honored to be assigned a swimming councilor and to be part of the amazing transformations that took place in the pool was nothing short of a miracle! Other daily activities included camp fires, evening skits, games and lots of singing and dancing. The activities, although fun, were catalysts to instill some much needed confidence and acclaim. The hope is that they come away from this experience believing in themselves and what they can accomplish.
The SERIOUS fun component to camp was an extremely cohesive life skills class. The educational classes providing much needed knowledge, as well as a safe arena for children to discuss AIDS/HIV, prevention, stigma, sexuality and gender relations openly. These discussions are all tailored to the different ages and genders of the campers. Phil Lilienthal the founder of Global Camps Africa believes we must use every tool to stem the tide of HIV/AIDS and Global Camps Africa has armed over 3,000 children that have come through the doors of Camp Sizanani with life saving, vital, information. Away from the pristine beauty of the Malesberg Mountains, I was reminded that almost half of all deaths in South Africa, and a staggering 71% of deaths among those aged between 15 and 49, are caused by AIDS. By the end of 2005, there were five and a half million people living with HIV in South Africa, and almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day. The prevalence of misinformation about AIDS in South Africa has not only hampered efforts to increase access to treatment, but has also created a climate of confusion in which prejudice towards people living with HIV thrives. It is clear that AIDS is having a devastating impact on South Africa! Thankfully organizations like Global Camps Africa are around providing much needed resources and tools that will provide the youth of South Africa a real opportunity for a healthy and informed life. I invite you to see first hand the transformational work they are doing at http://www.globalcampsafrica.org/content/view/15/84/
I want to thank all the vocellies (counselors) and the campers for welcoming me and Spikiri (my son’s appointed Zulu name) into their lives and hearts. I am still in such awe at all the camper’s spirit, strength, and brilliance. Their potential was illuminated at every activity and every interaction I was blessed to have with them. On the last night of camp at the closing bonfire I was thinking back to the initial bonfire we had only 9 nights earlier, and how far we had all come…. I remembered looking at these bright, smiling, joyful faces waiting to be fed with knowledge and love- a basic right that is unfortunately, so often missing from their daily lives. Tonight, I was looking at the future leaders of South Africa: these children had changed…. They were prouder, they walked taller, they knew they were loved and worthy of being loved. They were confident that they could, and would succeed: first for themselves, then for their families, then for their communities. The future of South Africa is brighter today because of these children, Global Camps Africa and the amazing vocellies. We are honored to have been part of this life changing few weeks.
We wish you all Ubuntu.
