Reflections on Camp Hope

By Intern Zoey Ponder

As this summer’s sessions of Camp Hope wind to an end and World Camp begins to prepare for our year-round programming, we all take the time to pause and reflect on our time spent at Camp. I was lucky enough to spend four days at two different camp sessions this year and will forever remember how touching this opportunity has been. 

Camp Hope is held in a beautiful setting, sort of off the beaten path about an hour outside of Lilongwe. The campsite lies against the backdrop of amazing rocky peaks and surrounded by quiet villages and farmland. The last fifteen minutes of the drive in is filled with kids yelling “azungu” (a friendly nickname for someone with light skin) and waving at the car as we bounce up and down on the dirt road. The campsite itself has large boys’ and girls’ dorm rooms as well as a huge dining hall in the center. Off to the right of the dorms and dining hall is a soccer field and the main hall and classrooms are over on the far side of that. 

Meal times are some of the silliest times. Kids have three meals and three snacks each day to help teach the value of nutritious eating and to provide valuable nutrition they may not receive at home. It was at Camp Hope that I tried Malawian food for the first time. Everyone is encouraged to eat as much as they want, as it was explained to me by an enthusiastic camper, “This is Africa, EAT EVERYTHING!” Meal times are also utilized to teach campers important food groups, staying hydrated and to celebrate the “Super Campers”. Super Campers are campers who are celebrated for their accomplishments at Camp during “Camp Kawawa” - which is essentially a big party of singing and dancing and giving out awards for any number of accomplishments that can earn one the “Super Camper” certificate. 

Outside of mealtimes the day is filled with loads of activities, special classes on all sorts of topics from the stigma attached to HIV to arts, crafts and campfires. I was very impressed to see the kids memorizing their ART (antiretroviral therapy) treatments and pill names so they can advocate for themselves and understand their treatment. Kids at Camp Hope get the chance to learn a lot about HIV and how they can help keep themselves healthy, like the importance of taking your treatment each day and the value of nutritious food. 

One of my favorite activities was the creation of a goals book. Campers got a picture of themselves taken in front of the Camp Hope sign, which many of them were very excited to share with me—and let me tell you these kids know how to strike a pose! Inside their books, they are encouraged to write what they want to achieve with their lives. Many of them wrote professions like a nurse or an accountant. They then wrote how to achieve these goals, what might stand in their way and how to overcome those obstacles. It was amazing to see kids who very seriously wanted to figure out how to achieve their goals. They were even asking me how to reach their goals and wanting me to share my goal book to them. It was an honor to have them want to share their books with me. 

Camp Hope really is a wonderful place for these kids. I saw so many of them laughing, holding hands, dancing together and sharing stories of struggle and hopes of a very bright future. These kids face a lot every day, but they are brave. Together, I saw them standing tall, whether it be dancing on the stage at Stage Night or in the lunch room receiving their “Super Camper” award. I am very proud of everyone who took part in this year’s Camp Hope and I can only hope that Camp Hope will continue to reach more kids each and every year.

Chiyembekezo (Hope)

Heartbreak. At first glance, Malawi is heartbreak. A raw, unyieldingly vivid picture of the pains and sorrows of my heart. The landscape is barren for miles, sweeping toward a lone tree resting in solitude on its hilltop outlook. Girls tell me calmly, evenly, that an obstacle they face in achieving their goals is being raped and beaten by men. Children beg insistently for money, pencils, food, anything. Students ask innocent questions like: “If HIV is in the body, why can’t we just take it out?” that dig into me like thorns. Questions that leave me wishing it were that simple.

But then I close my eyes and open them again. And I see a changed Malawi. A Malawi that is happiness. I see Malawi for what it truly is. An earnest-faced teacher pats my hand and calls me his daughter while another shows me how to drive an ox cart community members volunteered for the purpose. Passerbies on the street always have a wave, a smile, or a thumbs-up to offer. Students run alongside our bus as we pull up to their school and crowd around the car door to greet us as we step out. Women welcome me into their homes and teach me to do chores while chattering away in a language I cannot comprehend. Standing in a dance circle under a still sky streaked with milky stars, my heart feels full and at peace.

Malawi: you have inspired me to keep on fighting on gritty step at a time. You are a hopeful country, a country with conviction and joy and dreams of a brighter future. So let us hold hands as brothers and sisters—equals—and march forward together towards that glimmering orb peaking over the horizon. Let us march together, struggle together, believe together, and keep moving forward. Forward toward that brighter future. One step at a time.

Chiyembekezo

(Hope)

Submitted by: Michelle Ju, Malawi SS2 Intern

Hot Water...

"We love bathing in a bucket, pooping in a hole is much easier and cleaner than we had predicted and nsima is totally the new sushi.
This morning, just after our bucket bath, we were introduced to the entire primary school (all 2800 students). It wasn’t the introduction we could have forseen.
While preparing for the day we were surprised to witness our Malawian mayi (mother) Lilian sprint out of the house in the direction of all the school children. Amazed, we followed suit to see what was going on. Our mistake. As soon as we were in sight of the growing crowd, we became the object of everyones attention.
The running of the bulls is the best description for what happened next. Before we could blink the school children had rushed towards us, completely engulfing the unsuspecting ‘wazungus’ (white folk). They chanted wazungu and laughed and stared. It was a bit overwhelming. Out of nowhere two older students pushed their way to the center of the circle. One held a microphone which was attached to a brick, held by the other. We were then interviewed for Malawi TV.
Making sure they got everything on brick, we were escorted by the herd of students to our house. Lilian came appeared to save the day as she pushed us inside and shooed away the mob of school children. Good morning!
We later learned that what had originally taken place is very similar to what we call a ‘snow day’ in the States. Rumors of a Satanic Person had spread like wildfire throughout the community, reaching the primary school at prime time. Supposedly this Satanic Person was headed towards the school to drink the blood of the little children. Students dispersed in great numbers and school was forced to close. This wasn’t the first time something like this took place. It is a common occurance throughout Malawi.
We spent the remainder of the morning at the satellite office working on OVC spreadsheets and writing a proposal to the Nike (RED) Campaign. MCBO is applying for a grant from Nike which supports organzations who fight HIV through soccer. We created a pretty sweet application and will send it in tomorrow.
After lunch we had our first official lesson with the MCBO executive staff. Today’s topic: Leadership skills. We introduced it with a really fun activity that was basically follow the leader, blindfolded. It was certainly a sight to be seen. Afterwards we spent the next hour discussing different types of leadership methods and when it is deemed necessary to utilize each method. We concluded the lesson with an assessment quiz to identify each members’ leadership type and were pleased when they asked for more copies of the quiz to be used in the future."
"Overall a very successful day!"

"Tomorrow’s topic: Teamwork. We’ll let you know how the Trust Fall goes!"