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For children of affluent countries, overnight camp is a form of enrichment, an added dimension to life. For South African children, camp can mean the difference between life and death. Living in a country with the largest HIV-infected population in the world, many children don’t expect to reach adulthood.
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Our camps offer them new possibilities, give them the tools they need to cope and provide them with leadership skills and knowledge to make a difference in their lives and in their communities.
Children in South Africa not only suffer the medical impact of HIV/AIDS but also psychological and social impacts. Many campers are orphans, many girls have been victims of rape and incest, and many who have been brave enough to be tested for HIV and found positive suffer intense discrimination from those who refuse to be tested for fear they will be found positive.
The devastation of this pandemic is told in staggering numbers that are increasing:
- More than 1/3 of today’s 15 year olds in South Africa will die from AIDS.
- There are 11 million AIDS orphans in sub Saharan Africa. By 2010 that number could be 20 million.
- The year 2000 began with 24 million Africans infected with the virus. Absent a miracle, nearly all will die by 2010.
- To add perspective, the events of September 11, 2001 stand out as one of the worst tragedies of our time with nearly 3,000 deaths that day.
- The deaths due to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa are more than two 9/11’s a day--every day--every week--every month—every year.
- Global Camps Africa has partnered with HIV South Africa (HIVSA) to create Camp Sizanani (“helping each other” in Zulu). It has been a transforming experience for HIV-positive chidren. Arriving with low self-esteem and little cause for hope, they leave with skills and knowledge, self-confidence, plus a vision of the future.
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We are more than just a camp.
We are changing lives as we fight the war on HIV/AIDS.
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