Camp in Sierra Leone teaches children to ?live in light’
Sept. 20, 2006
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A UMNS Web-only photo by Phileas Jusu
Campers and counselors walk to church at the children’s camp.
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| Campers
and counselors walk to church at the children's camp at June Hartranft
Memorial Primary School for Girls in Moyamba, Sierra Leone. The July
17-24 camp was organized by the Children's Ministry of the United
Methodist Sierra Leone Annual Conference. Campers spent the week in
Bible study, learning about HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention, and
having fun and fellowship. A UMNS Web-only photo by Phileas Jusu. Photo
#w06-126. Accompanies UMNS story #565. 9/20/06 |
By Phileas Jusu*
MOYAMBA, Sierra Leone (UMNS) — Two hundred
and ten children from different parts of Sierra Leone and from various
religious backgrounds gathered this summer for a weeklong camp at June Hartranft Memorial Primary School for Girls.
The Children's Ministry of the United Methodist Sierra Leone Annual
Conference organized the July 17-24 camp, which had as its theme, "Live as
Children of Light," inspired by Ephesians 5:8.
The event was the third organized by the Children's Ministry after Sierra
Leone's bitter civil war, which lasted from 1991 to 2002.
The camp was timely, said the Rev. S.E.A. Fonnie, superintendent of the
United Methodist Church's Moyamba West District, where the event was held.
"After the war, we have found out that most children are wayward," he said.
"But now that this camp is in session, it will serve as a forum where their
lives will be molded. The lessons they're going to learn will instill in
them a God-fearing spirit and the values of Christian life."
In his address to the children at the official opening ceremony, Bishop
Joseph C. Humper of Sierra Leone admonished the children to treat life
seriously and warned them to stay away from harmful drugs. He said the
children were in the camp to prepare themselves for future leadership.
Humper told the camp counselors — teachers and caretakers who had traveled
with the children from different locations in the country — to spend time
with the children and be pacesetters for them.
The children spent the week studying portions of the Bible and learning
about HIV/AIDS and substance abuse, and they also had fun through indoor and
outdoor games. The interaction and the discipline they received from the
camp “will also have a positive social impact on the children," Fonnie said.
Overwhelmed by turnout
Sallu Kamara, a camp counselor and director of the Bible Training Institute
in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone, is optimistic about the camp’s impact on the
children. “The United Methodist Church has a policy to nurture children
during a vacation like this, so as to become good citizens in the future. We
expect them to learn to be orderly at home, school and the community within
which they live. We also expect them to learn Christian virtues like respect
for elders and also to become better Christians and children in the
communities where they live."
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A UMNS Web-only photo by Phileas Jusu
Children sing songs at the camp in Moyamba, Sierra Leone.
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| Campers
sing songs at June Hartranft Memorial Primary School for Girls in
Moyamba, Sierra Leone. The July 17-24 camp was organized by the
Children's Ministry of the United Methodist Sierra Leone Annual
Conference. Children spent the week in Bible study, learning about
HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention, and having fun and fellowship. A
UMNS Web-only photo by Phileas Jusu. Photo #w06-127. Accompanies UMNS
story #565. 9/20/06 |
The Rev. Jane Lahai, head teacher of June Hartranft Memorial Primary School
for Girls and also camp manager for 2006, shares Kamara’s optimism. "I
believe the boys and girls will take home new knowledge, new skills and
comportment. On the whole, I expect good from this camp this year."
She was overwhelmed by this year's turnout, she said. Her school has a
boarding facility for just 150 girls. Accommodating more than 200 campers
was a challenge she had to swiftly improvise for. "I have been a camper
since childhood, so I know how to manage children well. I have also held and
managed two such camps previously."
Comfortable beds were arranged for all the campers, and a separate makeshift
boarding area was prepared for the boys.
"We are seeing more turnout this year because just after the war, parents
were either afraid to part with their children or were not adequately
informed about our camps," Lahai said. "The information seems to have gone
down well this year, hence the high turnout. My only prayer now remains that
we are able in the future to have another building like this (pointing to
the two-story boarding home) so that we can host, train and care for more
children."
New friends, new skills
The Rev. Etta Nicol is the director of the Children's Ministry. At the
opening ceremony, she assured the children that they would return home full
of knowledge, and she encouraged them to be attentive in class.
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A UMNS Web-only photo by Phileas Jusu
New arrivals unload their gear as they begin their weeklong stay at camp.
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| New
arrivals unload their gear at the camp held at June Hartranft Memorial
Primary School for Girls in Moyamba, Sierra Leone. The July 17-24 camp
was organized by the Children's Ministry of the United Methodist Sierra
Leone Annual Conference. Children spent the week in Bible study,
learning about HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention, and having fun
and fellowship. A UMNS Web-only photo by Phileas Jusu. Photo #w06-128.
Accompanies UMNS story #565. 9/20/06 |
Sahr Sam, an 11-year-old from the UMC Boys Primary School in Koidu Town in
Eastern Sierra Leone, enjoyed the camp. "I came to this camp to learn more
about God," said Sahr, who wants to learn how to preach. "I also like the
camp because of the big playground and good water to drink."
Hannah Kanu, 13, a second-year student from Holy Rosary Secondary School (a
Catholic high school) in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone, also gave the camp
high marks.
"I was delighted to come because I have never been to a camp before," she
said."Already, I have learned a lot from what (the) bishop said yesterday,
that I can be a child of light by being a good girl."
Eleven-year-old Hawa Abu, from the UMC Primary School in Kulanda Town, Bo,
Sierra Leone, had attended the 2004 camp as well. She said she loved camping
"because of the new friends I make and the new skills I learn from them."
*Jusu is director of communications for the United Methodist Church’s Sierra
Leone Annual Conference.
News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.
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