Blossoming Deserts: Purposeful Camp Namibia

During the summer break, I got the privilege of joining the team for Purposeful Camp Namibia. This camp was started lasted year as the brain-child of four first-year university students who wanted to pass on the leadership skills they have learned to those younger than them. In only its second year, they selected forty 15-19 year olds out of almost 200 applicants to participate in this influential camp. The Covid regulations restrict group sizes to 50 people, so following all health protocols we were able to successfully pull off this camp in the midst of a global pandemic!

The first day targeted personal development. Participants had a chance to share their personal stories and discuss topics like forgiveness, personal boundaries, and habits. These sessions were led by one of the young ladies who has been in my D-group for the last two years. I also got to share from Philippians 3 about spiritual development and making Christ your supreme treasure. Throughout the day, participants also broke out into pairs or small groups for stimulation activities to discuss and apply the things they were learning during the lectures.

The other days were focused on topics like leadership, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Participants got to practice giving speeches and making a pitch to potential investors. We also got to have lots of fun with team-building activities, the pool, and even a color party!

The last night was a fancy Gala Dinner where students received certificates and each one got to express what they learned and were taking away from the camp. Our inspiring guest speaker was the Honorable Emma Theofalus, the youngest ever Namibian deputy minister at only 27 years old. Overall the camp was a great success and young people left inspired to live with influence and purpose and make a difference in their communities.