We are thrilled to share the good news that Global Camps Africa is one of just 25 worldwide winners of the 2014 LinkedIn Nonprofit Innovation Grants.

The opportunity to compete for this grant was made available to us by a LinkedIn employee and long-time supporter of Global Camps Africa, Emily Ferdman. Before joining LinkedIn, Emily worked in the camping industry and saw GCA's Founder and President, Phil Lilienthal, speak at an American Camping Association Conference years ago. Since then, she has been seeking ways to support GCA. She reached out to Phil in March to ask if we would like to partner with her to seek this funding...and the rest is history!

We are excited and honored that Global Camps Africa's 10 years of achievement and continuing innovation have been recognized and rewarded in this way. The funds will be directed to the development of a Youth Clubs program designed for children under 11 years of age. Many of these younger children are coming to Youth Clubs now with their older siblings. But without an age-appropriate curriculum and vochellis trained in early childhood education, they are not receiving the full benefit of the program. With the LinkedIn funding, we will have the resources to develop that curriculum, train a number of our vochellis, and deliver a Youth Club experience to the younger children that is better aligned with the mission of Global Camps Africa.

It's especially gratifying to receive this award for innovation as we are in the midst of our 10th anniversary, celebrating all that GCA has already accomplished. Together, we are part of something dynamic, growing, and rooted in success. Thank you, GCA supporters and friends, for making it all possible.