Global Camps Africa

Global Camps Africa (formerly WorldCamps) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Reston, Virginia that establishes, staffs and maintains no-cost American-style summer camps (although many operate year-round) to teach children about HIV and AIDS prevention, among other life skills.

The first such camp was Camp Sizanani of Magaliesburg, South Africa, which was founded in 2003 and operates several camp sessions per year.[1] Camp Sizanani has served over 6,300 campers from 2003-2014. The children at Sizanani come from the townships of Johannesburg, the nation's largest city. Since 2014, Global Camps Africa's only camp (Camp Sizanani) has expanded to nine simultaneous camps.[1] Additional camps and youth clubs outside Cape Town and Durban have been held. The long-term goal of Global Camps Africa is to expand to other nations, both in Africa and elsewhere.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Camps Africa has held virtual youth clubs and developed an expanded virtual educational curriculum through Facebook and WhatsApp groups, incorporating health, wellness, life skills, and academic tutoring in core school subjects.[2]

Founder

Global Camps Africa Inc. (formerly WorldCamps) was founded by Philip H. Lilienthal, an American lawyer and camp director. Lilienthal owned and operated Camp Winnebago in Fayette, Maine for 30 years before founding Global Camps Africa. Although Lilienthal had Peace Corps experience in Ethiopia, his first foray with Global Camps Africa led him to South Africa. There, he teamed with HIVSA, a local HIV/AIDS foundation, to establish Camp Sizanani in the Gauteng province, home to South Africa's capital, Pretoria and its largest city, Johannesburg.

When establishing a new Global Camps Africa location, Lilienthal temporarily assumes the role of camp director for the new camp's fledgling sessions. He then passes the daily operations on to local leadership for the long term.

In 2013, Lilienthal received the U.S. Peace Corps' 2013 Sargent Shriver Award for Humanitarian Service.[3]

References
  1. "Change Makers in Africa: Venues for Healing and Social Change". American Camp Association. 2015-09-29. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  2. https://www.globalcampsafrica.org/virtual-youth-clubs-1
  3. "Sargent Shriver Award Winners". NPCA. Retrieved 2021-01-01.


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