Support 7 Weeks of Full-Day Summer at CAMP IMANI

Dear Friend of Imani House,

Thanks for all of your support.  We could not do the work we do for children without your help. As the founder of Imani House, I am the mother of five children. I know first hand how important it is for children to have fun and engage in new learning, both physical and emotional in order to mature into caring and capable adults.

As we go through the fall, and support children in our afterschool program - tomorrow promises to be the coldest day of the year thus far.  The children and staff in our fall program have been plagues by the new Covid variant in spite of our best efforts.  We have all been hoping and praying that schools are not shut down again

Camp is always the icing on the cake for these kids whose parents have been put through the wringer for the last two years.  Children do believe they can  have their cake and eat it too.  Little kids 4 to 9 years old shouldn't have to endure this very adult situtaion. So we are more than willing to give them as much cake as they want, sugar free that is.  In all cases Imani House is here for them.

Won't you lend your support as Camp Imani enters its 18th year hosting this very special free summer camp and afterschool experiences that we offer 250 children each year.

We will always continue to offer the very best, bringing in people who are specialist in their own fields to engage children in Archery, STEM, Visual Arts, Gardening, Modeling, Photo Journalism, Sewing, Bird Watching, Athletics, Trips and so much more.

We will keep you posted.  Thanks again for your support.

Warm wishes and gratitude,

Bisi Ideraabdullah, Executive Director/Founder

Dear Friends of Imani House,

Imagine going back to school after a year at home in front of a Computer screen.  Children who were ready for Kindergarten from low-income families - Children who had little access to computers because of the other siblings in the home or a lack of guidance? Imagine not seeing your friends in person for a year and you are only 6 - 10 years old?  Imagine the struggle this created for children who had to reverse their thinking, be strong, avoid upsetting already overstressed parents and who also may have lost loved ones to COVID19?

Imani House never closed our afterschool, we ran remote classes of dance, and music, sewing, and science, but it just was not the same. Then last summer we were invited to do an in-person camp.  But parents’ fears of contagion were obvious when less than 30 out of 120 children attended in person.

When the City and Mayor approached Imani House and other CBO's asking us to collaborate with the day school.  To help set up a program for July and August that would not only welcome children back on site but also provide exceptional safety and care. We pulled our staff together and readied the program with the school

The objective was to get children used to being back in school full time.  It was an experiment that worked.  For Imani House and our staff, it was more than challenging as we welcomed the children, the staff, and worked with the school to provide academic support during the morning and recreation and fun activities in the afternoon. We spent more than usual on specialty staff, (archery, drama, visual arts, STEM, gardening, sports…), held parties, and were even able to take trips to the Zoo and end with a big barbeque and family day in Prospect Park.

The program was a success.  The school accepted 120 children and Imani House accepted 150. Thanks for your support.  It meant a lot to our staff and the children.  It allowed us to buy additional supplies, games, art materials, take trips, and otherwise, show the children how much fun and excitement being with their peers and our staff again was.

Thanks for your continued support.  This camp and our afterschool program are an essential element of a child's development and are needed more now than ever.  

With great appreciation,

Bisi Ideraabdullah

Executive Director