Welcome Barbara Krimgold to Our Board
Barbara
Ms. Krimgold has worked in health policy and international health and economic development for many years, including stints with the United States Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, and The Center for Advancing. She is a graduate of Harvard College and won a National Defense Education Act postgraduate fellowship at Harvard’s Graduate Center for Middle Eastern Studies. She has lived and worked in France, the Philippines, Indonesia, the Gaza Strip, Egypt, and Ghana. Since 2001, Barbara has served as director of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s postdoctoral Kellogg Health Scholars Program and of the Multidisciplinary-Disparities track for that program. She also directs the doctoral Kellogg Fellows in Health Policy Research Program. She lives in McClean, Virginia, with her husband Fred, and has five grown daughters.
Lindy's Story
My name is Lindy and I am 17 years old. I live at Sparrow, a children’s home in Johannesburg. I have lived at Sparrow for six years. I live in a “cluster”, with 11 other girls and our house mother. Sparrow has become my home, and my family. I love cooking – my favorite things to cook are soup and chicken. I also love singing and dancing. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get time to myself, so when I want to be alone I go to the chapel and play the piano.
I am in grade 10. My favorite subjects in school are English, history, and life orientation.
My life has not been easy. My mother was HIV-positive, and she died when I was very young. I lived in several foster homes before I came to Sparrow. I have suffered from depression, and last year I spent three months in a mental health hospital called Tara. I am very happy I went there because I am much better now.
When I grow up, I would like to become a lawyer and help children who have been abused. I myself have been emotionally abused, physically abused, and sexually abused. That’s why I want to be a lawyer, because I know what it feels like. But I think that if I could get through that, then a lot of other kids and teenagers like me can get through it.
How did I get through it? I smiled every day. I wouldn’t just let myself down because of what other people did to me. I had to be strong. When things are hard, I think of my mother. And I say to myself: She didn’t make it to where she wanted to be. So let me get to where I want to be, and just carry on.
In my life, I have learned that you should love everyone NOW, because you never know when someone will disappear from your life.
Last year I visited Camp Sizanani for a day with some other people from Sparrow. Phil, the man at Camp Sizanani, told me that I would be able to come next time and be a camper here. Later, when I was invited to come to camp, I was so happy. I was surprised that Phil actually did what he said he would do. He taught me that sometimes you really can trust people. Sometimes you have to trust.
I have had so much fun here at camp. My favorite activities are theatre and life skills. In life skills I learned that when you have a disease, you are no different from any other person. You can still be the person you want to be, even if you have HIV. HIV is not the end. Camp has also taught me that you have to have courage and gumption in your life.
GCA Works with International Association of Applied Psychology and the United Nations
Over the last several months, Global Camps Africa's President and Founder, Phil Lilienthal, has worked closely with representatives of the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP) to the United Nations. Our shared goal is to partner with South Africa's Department of Social Development to create an effective camp program aimed at the youth of the country that can be implemented and maintained by the government ministry there. A snapshot of this effort was captured in a recent article in the July/October 2012 edition of the IAAP bulletin (pages 71-74). Link: http://www.iaapsy.org/uploads/file/newsletters/July2012.pdf
UNO Chicago Grill Hosts Dough-Raiser for Global Camps Africa
UNO Chicago Grill in Reston, VA, is having a Dough-Raiser to benefit Global Camps Africa on Thursday, September 20th. Up to 20% of your check will be donated to support GCA's programs when you dine at UNO in Reston for lunch or dinner (please bring this voucher with you). The offer is even good for take-out orders!
Global Camps Africa staff will be on-hand to chat, and we'll also invite volunteers to join our trivia team between 7:30 and 9:30 PM. We look forward to seeing you all there!
To receive a copy of the voucher by e-mail, please send a note to emily@globalcampsafrica.org.
Mosaic Harmony and South African Counselors Make Beautiful Music Together
Last night at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Reston, Virginia, 5 of Global Camps Africa's counselors from Camp Sizanani joined us for an unforgettable evening of music and support for HIV-affected children. Mosaic Harmony, an inter-faith choir, gave an inspiring performance to benefit Global Camps Africa. Before intermission, our 5 counselors took the stage and shared their own music with the rapt crowd. After the show, many members of the audience stayed to meet all of the performers and to talk with the counselors about their experiences at Camp Sizanani.
Global Camps Africa's life-changing programs to provide life skills and HIV-prevention education to children in South Africa is only possible because of generous, caring people who connect with our vision and provide the funds to make it happen. Last night's concert was a beautiful example of just these kinds of connections being made. We're grateful for our supportive friends and community of donors who joined us for the event, and for our talented and dedicated counselors who inspire us all.