Youth Camp Liberia

YOUTH CAMP

LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA

BACKGROUND

Freed American slaves founded Liberia in 1820.

It gained independence as a republic in 1847.

In 1989, civil war began in Liberia, causing the

deaths of more than 150,000 people and

creating hundreds of thousands of refugees.

In August 2003, a Comprehensive Peace

Agreement ended 14 years of civil war.

On January 16, 2006 Africa’s first woman

president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was inaugurated.

Today in Liberia, people are hopeful for the future

of their country and children. There is a great need

for the youth of Liberia to be inspired and led in a

positive direction.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

In Liberia many church activities were unable to take place for many years due to the war, including youth camps for children. In 2007, Refuge and Hope International partnered with the Ricks Institue, a K-12 institution in Liberia, to help organize a youth camp for 200 young Liberian boys and girls. Refuge and Hope committed to building a low ropes course to enhance this camp. This course was designed to help Liberian youth gain confidence and leadership skills and would also continue to be used after the camp was over by varying groups to generate funds for Ricks Institute, where the ropes course was built and the camp was held. The cost of the ropes course was $3,000. Youth attending the camp were selected from Baptist churches scattered throughout the country. Both girls and boys were able to attend this camp held in late December 2007 to January 2008. Local Liberian staff

were employed to supervise much of the camp. Passport Camps, Inc. a US based organization, trained the local staff and provided

logistical support in order for the camp to run

smoothly and efficiently. In addition, HIV/AIDS

awareness was taught at the camp to help

educate the youth about this growing problem

in Liberia.

OUTCOME

This project with the youth camp sought to bring

a glimmer of hope and encouragement back into

the lives of Liberian youth throughout this country

that is struggling to come out of years of war and

violence. With 200 young girls and boys coming