Summer Camp Recap

Thanks to your incredible generosity, we were able to hold 4 different summer camps this year!  Over 400 children attended these camps, including children living in restavek as well as some of their host siblings.  (This was actually one of the most amazing parts about the camp…when children who are normally treated as slaves get to play together, eat together and learn together with the children they live with and normally serve, and are loved on and treated the same by our amazing advocates, their host families begin to realize they are equal.  What a powerful message this sends!)

Three of the day camps ran from July 12^th to August 5^th and were held at partner schools.  The kids came Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays and stayed for the morning and afternoon.  The last camp, held at a partner school outside Port-au-Prince, ran Monday through Friday for a week in August.

Each morning we arrived at the camp, there was already a crowd of children waiting, so excited for camp to begin.  We would jump right into the day, which was jam-packed with fun and educational activities for the kids, including games, English classes, sexual education classes for the older teenagers, arts and crafts, t-shirt tie-dying, music, dance, and perhaps the kids’ favorite part, lunch!

Each camp ended with a finale talent show – this was my favorite day.  It was so inspiring to see the kids, from as young as 5 to older teens, climb up on the stage and giggle together as they showed off their talents.  From singing to dancing to performing skits and telling jokes, these kids got to be the center of attention in a safe, loving environment and have more than 100 children and adults clapping for them.

We could go on describing the camps to you, but we thought even better would be to show you pictures!  Check out this video below, which includes snapshots of all four of our summer camps.  These camps would not have been possible without your generosity…thank you again a million!