HOPE-PALS Summer Camp

Thanks to a PEPFAR grant (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), I was able to organize a 3-day overnight camp for the children of the Hope-Pals members. We had sports, arts & crafts, sessions on sexuality and personal development, a puppet show on HIV/AIDS, taekwondo lessons, a movie night, and then our final day at the beach. It was stressful bringing it all together, but oh so worth the effort when a few of the kids said this was their first time at summer camp and one child even told me, "I was scared to come to camp, but now I think this is the most fun I ever had." I grew so attached to them within the first few hours and was so humbled to have them trusted in my care.

Dr. Marianne Szauer leading a session on HIV/AIDS with the puppets...
me & the kids...
Beach Day at Grand Anse...