Camp Sizanani

Camp Sizanani has empowered close to 12,000 orphans and vulnerable youth.

Fun is as essential to Camp Sizanani as it is to any other camp. But it is not sufficient. Equally vital is the program of life skills, where kids learn how to protect themselves from a deadly disease and how to defend themselves from addiction, exploitation, and abusive behavior.

In life skills classes, campers in the throes of adolescence learn facts about sexuality and have the chance to speak openly about it. Myths about HIV/AIDS are replaced with objective knowledge. Understanding helps mitigate social stigmas. Kids who are infected learn how to live longer and more productive lives. Boys learn to respect girls; girls learn to respect themselves.

Life skills learning flows into the larger camping experience through arts and crafts, storytelling, poetry, theater, and other activities that to the campers appear to be pure fun.

As campers develop trust in their counselors, a variety of settings lend themselves to uncovering and healing scars of abuse. A typical schedule would include Sports and Adventure, Theatre, Nutrition, Arts & Crafts, Yoga, Swimming (season-dependent), and Life Skills (proper nutrition/hygiene, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, healthy sexuality, gender stereotypes, etc.). Life skills tools are part of the fabric woven into every activity every day.

Camp Dates for 2025: March 29 - April 5, October 4 - 11, December 11 - 18