THE DRUMBEAT - JANUARY 2026
Global Camps Africa equips South Africa’s vulnerable youth with the tools and knowledge to lead healthy, empowered lives and make positive impacts on their communities.
REPORT FROM THE FIELD
Preparing for another year of impact! Last week, our vochellis (camp and club counselors) got together for their first training of 2026 in preparation for Youth Clubs reopening February and the first session of Camp Sizanani in March. Topics included the code of conduct, curriculum content and structure, facilitation techniques, monitoring and evaluation procedures, and report writing — all components that play a vital part in ensuring our life skills programs run smoothly.
The leaders of the training were thrilled with the vochellis' performance, noting their robust engagement and understanding of our organization's culture and values. Our vochellis aren't just well-trained and well-equipped for another year of camp — they are genuinely committed to changing kids' lives, demonstrating the enthusiasm that makes Camp Sizanani great.
Hear Us, See Us: Young Women Speaking Out for Gender Equality
Empowering women and girls! In December, Camp Sizanani and Global Camps Africa hosted an event where where our female campers discussed gender inequality, drawing from real-life experiences and observations as young women in South Africa.
Our panel of experts consisted of Laura Nyirinkindi from the United Nations Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls (UNWGDAWG), Dr. Fatima Mmusi from the University of Johannesburg, Sr. Fikile Dikolomela-Lengene from the Orange Farm Clinic, Modiehi Mokhafola from DeafSA, and Camp Sizanani's own head social worker Ditlhare Mokhema. These brilliant women delivered a clear message to our female campers: while being a girl presents plenty of challenges — prejudice and violence among them — you also have the power to change the world, especially if you work together.
We want to see a world where all women and girls have strengthened confidence, protection, and robust support systems — and together, we are working toward just that.
PARTNERSHIP WITH WESTERN CAPE DSD
The GCA community continues to grow! Camp Sizanani and Global Camps Africa recently partnered with the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD), the arm of the regional Western Cape government concerned with providing social protection services to its citizens.
The Western Cape DSD helped us extend our impact by collaborating to organize the event, "Toward Substantive Gender Equality: Celebrating and Empowering Partnerships That Protect Young Women and Girls." There, we heard from a number of experts — including members of the Western Cape Parliament — on the challenges presented by gender inequality, both in South Africa and around the world, and discussed possible solutions. Thirty young women and girls from the settlement communities around Cape Town were in attendance and were able to voice their own experiences with inequality, letting lawmakers and corporate leaders know that there is still plenty of work to be done to achieve true gender equality in South Africa.
GCA thanks the Western Cape DSD for their partnership, especially as we work to expand our life skills programs to other regions of South Africa.
ONE NIGHT FOR SIZANANI 2026 - SAVE THE DATE
Join us for a very special evening! Global Camps Africa will be hosting its annual fundraising gala, One Night for Sizanani, on April 25 at the Capital One Hall in Tysons, VA. All proceeds from the event will go toward supporting our life skills programs in South Africa, allowing us to empower even more vulnerable children and youth.
This year's event will be particularly special, as we launch our new campaign: We Keep Moving. The theme is intended to recognize that meaningful change doesn’t stop with one generation. It lives, breathes, runs, dances, and grows — across borders, across decades — through us all. Young or old, American or South African, we have the power to make change happen when we keep moving together.
The event will consist of a reception, dinner, live auction, and paddle raise. There will also be a live performance by South African music stars and friends of GCA Jesse Clegg and Msaki, who are traveling all the way from South Africa to join us.
Tickets go on sale February 17, so mark your calendars and please plan to be with us for an unforgettable evening of music, movement, and meaning!
Connect With us on social media
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