Providing Education over challenges at summer camp

"My three weeks' experience at camp can be equated to my academic year at school. Little did I know that many things can be learned at camp that I cannot quickly learn at school. Usually, at school, we are most focused on academic work without time to invent and explore other tools that build us physically, mentally, and emotionally. Camp has helped me fill that gaps" (Moses).

What is considered a one-time event that brings experience, expertise, and emotion is all gearing up. Due to the experiences of others who attended our Christmas camp last year, we have the highest application of young people who expressed to participate in our camp this year. During the period under review, we have received more than 750 applications from people who expressed interest in attending this year's camp. We conducted a survey capturing the experiences and success stories of 250 campers and parents regarding how camp has positively affected their lives. Below are a few excerpts from the surveys.

• My son was a very troublesome child at some point. He started following bad boys, taking in drugs and alcohol, staying out late and at some point not coming home, abandoning schools many days, performing poorly in his lesson, and disrespecting everyone, including us as parents. But since we went camping, his life has shifted more positively, and he is no longer doing those things he did the previous years. He has taken the mantle of leadership and maturity that we are proud of as a parent. Thank God to Camp for Peace Liberia for their timely intervention (Martha).

• I usually ask my friends what so much at camp that you people always want to go to. Their responses were insufficient until one summer; I decided to try the camping environment. I later disputed my belief that camp was a waste of time. Fortunately for me, when I visited a camp for the first day, I saw life's flip side. I saw the activities as exciting and connected to my concern. For the first time, I experience real love and care that can not easily erase from my memory. Thank God to Camp for Peace Liberia and the partners for their support.

These are excerpts we collected from our survey during the period under review. There are many more testimonies and stories that we will be bringing in our subsequent report.