Can #GivingTuesday Really Make a Difference?

This Giving Tuesday, many of us may be asking ourselves whether one day with a hashtag can really make a difference, or if it's just a marketing gimic that clutters our social media feeds and fills our inboxes.  At Global Camps Africa, we get excited about Giving Tuesday because it gives us a chance to join with other non-profits to shine a light on what we think is the most important thing about the holidays:  LOVE.  

Whatever we believe (or don't believe), however we celebrate, wherever we are, we share this moment.  And the moment, the holiday season, is about love.  For some of us, it's a moment to honor a love born of faith.  For others, it's a time to celebrate love for our families and friends.  And on Giving Tuesday, we take the moment to share that love with the rest of the world.  We shine a brilliant, beautiful light out into the darkest places and say, "We see you.  We love you.  We can help."

So, yes, Giving Tuesday is a clever marketing idea and it probably does fill our inboxes to overflowing...but it is also a welcome opportunity to take a moment to focus on what makes this season so special.  If we take the opportunity...if we take the love we feel for others and turn it into action...Giving Tuesday can change a child's life.

Growing Together this Holiday Season: A Letter from Phil

Dear Friends,

In Zulu, asikhulisane means “let’s grow together.”  That’s the name of our program for children who aren’t yet old enough to attend Camp Sizanani, but who live in the same heart-breaking circumstances as the youth who come to camp.  We started this program with the help of some seed funding from LinkedIn in response to a community need:  basic health education, life skills development, and a safe, supportive environment for the younger children of the townships around Johannesburg. 

That’s one of my favorite things about Global Camps Africa...we’re so close to the communities we serve that we can hear directly from them about what their children need to thrive, and we can respond with innovative new programs that directly address those needs.  From a seed of support, a flourishing program has taken root.  Over 1,000 children came to our Asikhulisane Clubs this year!  

One of those children was Mzwandile from the township of Orange Farm.  He started coming to the club in 2015 as an 11-year old, and this September (after turning 12) he was invited to Camp Sizanani.  Here’s what Mzwandile said about his experience:

"At camp, I loved the sports and learning about how exercise is important to stay healthy.  We also learned about different diseases in Life Skills.  I loved learning how to swim, and making new friends! ”

Mzwandile and his mom outside their home

Mzwandile’s mom shared what she thinks about Global Camps Africa’s programs, and our impact on her son:

"He loves the club, and he enjoyed camp.  When he comes home from the club, he talks about the club and what they did.  It helps us connect about his life.  When he came home from camp, he was so proud of the certificate he earned there! ”

The children who start with us in the Asikhulisane program, then join us at camp, are the seeds of a beautiful future in South Africa and beyond.  With knowledge, empowerment, and a new vision for their lives, they are growing into the agents of change that will transform their communities.  Your support now will make this continued growth and change possible.  I see the change in the campers at Camp Sizanani. It is powerful and recognizable.  It moves their lives in a trajectory that will make them successful community members.  I’m so grateful for every dollar you choose to invest in their futures, because I know what they would be facing without your support:  hopelessness. 

I want us to continue to grow together...grow our impact, grow the opportunities for the vulnerable children of South Africa, and grow our sense of hope for the future...together.  Thank you for all you’ve done to plant and nurture these seeds of change.  

I hope you will consider continuing your support so that, together, we can reach more children like Mzwandile in 2017.

With gratitude and hope,

Phil Lilienthal, President & Founder

Camp O-At-Ka in Maine Raises Funds for GCA

On July 18th, Camp O-At-Ka opened their doors for the very first Road Race for GCA. The race was held in Maine where 100 runners came from both Camp O-At-Ka and Camp Fernwood. Runners could choose among three different races, a 3km, 2km, and 1km fun-run, and some runners enjoyed the race enough to finish in wheelbarrow fashion! Prior to the races, Phil Lilienthal, Global Camps Africa’s founder and president, spoke with the campers and shared more insight into GCA and Camp Sizanani. The campers were intrigued by what Phil had to say and enjoyed being able to run in a race to benefit the work we do for the vulnerable children of South Africa. As an added bonus, the campers showed interest in getting more involved and plan to donate items such as swimsuits, hats, and sneakers.

How wonderful to see so many new campers embracing  the meaning of “sizanani” (helping one another),  and getting involved in their own ways. This event provided a great opportunity for campers in the United States to support the fight against the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa. We hope this will be the first annual Camp O-At-Ka- fun run for GCA’s benefit, and that the campers’ participation can grow into a lasting relationship with our organization. Our South African youth clubs each have a focus on community service, and it is an honor to share that tenet with camps here in the United States, and to spread the spirit of sizanani. We hope to continually encourage youth to actively engage in their local communities as well as with communities across the globe.  

Each camper contributed $10 as an entry fee, all $1000 of which went to GCA, enabling two additional campers to attend camp and a year of Youth Clubs.

We are grateful to Kyle Tong, O-At-Ka's director and a former vochelli, who spearheaded the entire event. Kyle shared that he was pleased with this year’s turnout and expects the event to grow even bigger in coming years.  We’d like to thank all Camp O-At-Kat, Camp Fernwood, and the participants for a fun and successful day!

GCA for My Birthday!

by Courtney Harris

With my 30th birthday fast approaching -- April 1st will be here so soon! -- I thought this “milestone” birthday would be a creative avenue for sharing Global Camps Africa with my friends, family, and social network. Having begun my role as office manager in January, those close to me have already heard many wonderful things about GCA’s mission and programs. I thought a birthday fundraiser would allow me to share some videos and stories with my extended network, with the added bonus of hopefully raising money for our programs and extending our donor base. My immediate family loved the idea and encouraged my development of the fundraiser page. At this point in my life the only “gift” I desire is time with friends and family, so for those who enjoy a more “tangible” gift idea, this seemed like a reasonable (and fun!) solution.

The fundraiser kicked off in early March, and so far it has been a great way to talk with my network about GCA’s programs. I have shared our videos with interested parties, and received a great deal of positive feedback. If nothing else this fundraiser has provided me the joy of spreading the word about GCA and sharing our impact with my dear friends and family. I am incredibly grateful for the support of friends and family, and look forward to growing in my role as Office Manager at Global Camps Africa!

To see Courtney's fundraising page, click here.

A new year...the perfect time to add a new adventure to your calendar

It's the first month of a brand new year.  Isn't that exciting?  A blank calendar just begging for plans to be made and dates to be filled...but what if this year, instead of allowing those boxes to be covered with the same old appointments, obligations, and expectations, you added something brand new?  An adventure.  A bucket list item.  A dream fulfilled.  A new year is calling...follow the map below to find one amazing way to answer.

Now that you are sure a trip to South Africa with Global Camps Africa is a terrific idea, find all the details on our itinerary and brochure.  If you're ready to sign up (spaces are filling fast and the deadline for joining the trip is March 31!), let us know.  If you still have a few questions, we'd love to talk to you (you can reach us by phone at 703-437-0808 or email info@globalcampsafrica.org).  We hope your 2016 is off to a great start, and that you can join us for an amazing adventure in South Africa to make this year a truly spectacular one.  Sawubona!