The ANCHOR (African Network of Children Orphaned and at Risk) program within HOPE worldwide Kenya is dedicated to enriching the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya. One of the methods for achieving this is through annual children’s camps.
For the first time this year, in the month of August, children in the ANCHOR OVC program participated in camps in different towns in Kenya - Nakuru, Makindu, Kibwezi, Mombasa and Naivasha. The activities and the designs of the camps were as diverse as the locations they were held in. The themes consistent, though, in all the camps were fun and education.
Four hundred and fifty-six (456) children aged between 10 and 17 years got the privilege of participating in these camps. The children were drawn from Kidz Clubs supported by the ANCHOR OVC Support program. “The camps were designed to give the children access to psychosocial interventions through games and social activities,” explains Paul Malcolm, an officer in the OVC program. “They were also a platform to enable boys and girls of various ages to express their views and concerns within a warm and safe environment. These are aimed at assisting the children to build their confidence and resilience.”
The camps are also meant to equip the child participants with knowledge, information and life skills by integrating play, learning and understanding the various elements of adolescence, relationships, emotions, drug abuse, basic information on HIV/AIDS and issues around sex and reproduction. The integration of education into fun activities contributes to the effective prevention of HIV/AIDS among youth.
Children from Kiambu visited Naivasha and camped at an inn by the lakeside, while at a school in the town of Kisayani, eleven community-based organizations from Kibwezi division got together. Meanwhile, children left Mukuru slums for a trip to Nakuru where they camped for four days, and the beaches of Mombasa were the venue for children from the Huruma and Mathare slums to have their getaway.
Some of the children had never been out of their neighbourhoods before. All enjoyed the change of environment, beautiful natural views, site-seeing tours, sunbathing and fun activities like boat-rides, swimming, volleyball, football, songs, poems, drama and dances. There was comedy by the bon fire, rock-climbing, movies, puppet shows and shared meals. Caregivers became skilled storytellers.
In climbing the Menengai crater which is 25km high, some shared their lessons learnt. “As it was difficult to climb the mountain, so it is with goals in life,” they commented. “As with climbing a mountain, in life it is not easy to achieve goals without support of others.”
“We were happy to learn new things about HIV and new topics like love and dating,” said some children from Kibwezi, whose excitement mirrored that of the others.
The camps brought out the best in the children and were one more step in their growth. As children acknowledge the thoughts and feelings of other children, it is natural to develop compassion for each other. Learning to be understanding, to be civil and accepting of other individuals will aid the children in social situations as they grow older and particularly as they become adults.
