Happy Campers: Boarding School program on HIV prevention
Phil Lilienthal, a Washington lawyer and a summer camp owner, has conducted different approach upon fighting HIV and AIDS in South Africa. South Africa has being indulged through soccer, swimming, arts and craft, so with education and fun. This battle has been originated at the United States since 2004, known for its name as Global Camps, wherein hosted I a 10-day camp sessions for more than 3,000 children who has been infected with HIV/AIDS viruses.
This has been done with the cooperation of the Boarding School; they are lending their facilities in the mountains 50 miles from Johannesburg. They are also taking part on the typical camp activities as a staff discussing about HIV prevention, nutrition, self-esteem and other topics that Mr. Lilienthal and staff prepared hoping upon enhancing the children’s future.
Taboo is what has been considered in the camper’s communities on how this kind of disease has been spread. Mr. Lilienthal, 68, gives relevant knowledge on self-respect and myths. For studies show that many of the orphans who have been victims on rapes and incest infected by this viruses are facing intense discrimination in different communities when times would come that they will become known upon having the disease. 11 million have been said as AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa and 1/3 of today’s 15 year old will die for the disease.
“For children of affluent countries, overnight camp is an added dimension to life,” says Mr. Lilienthal, who lives in Reston. “For South African children, camp can mean the difference between life and death. Living in a country with the largest HIV-infected population in the world, many children in South Africa don’t expect to reach adulthood. Our camp gives them the tools to cope.”
This happy camper has been a mission for both Phil and his wife, Lynn, that at first would be just giving fun for kids but eventually turns a program for a cause. And they would like to extend this to the whole world, and South Africa would be just a successful stepping-stone.
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