Tikvat Yisrael Synagogue Hosts Another Colorful Edition Of Camp Sarah in Abuja
Camp Sarah has once again made the summer holiday unforgettable for the children of the Jewish communities in Abuja, Nigeria. The two-week summer camp, held at the Tikvat Israel Synagogue in Kubwa started on the 5th of August and came to a successful close on Friday, 16th August 2024. Last year, the inaugural event took place almost at the same time and venue. Since that groundbreaking debut, the camp organizers have held two additional activities. Firstly, a joint Hanukkah festival service and a Purim brightened by a Camp Sarah colorful children celebration in Gihon Hebrew Synagogue.
This year’s outing began with a 3-day leadership training program hosted inside the social hall at Gihon Hebrew Synagogue. Prospective camp Sarah workers, volunteers, and instructors were briefed on how activities for the 2 weeks of camping will proceed according to plans. Selected individuals were drawn from 2 synagogues in Abuja and from at least 4 other synagogues outside the capital territory.
The final day of the leadership training coincided with the start of a National Youth Shabbat, which was hosted in Gihon Hebrew Synagogue. This special Shabbat was attended by youth from nine different states across the country. It was indeed a super weekend for the youth, with lots of activities beginning with a colorful Shabbat candle lighting and ending in a high-spirited musical havdallah. On Sunday, the following day, spectators gathered in a field to witness the road to the Maccabi Games as a Nigerian youth soccer team was set to make its debut in the Jewish Olympics.
The next day, the stage was set for the opening of Camp Sarah in Tikvat Yisrael Synagogue in Abuja. This camp welcomed 79 children, divided into four age groups: 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-16, with approximately 20 children per group. Volunteer counselors supervised each group.
The camp was supported by eight international volunteers from three continents and three countries: Rothem from Israel, Degania from Denmark, Aviv, and five others from the USA. In addition, the success of the camp was largely due to the contributions of twenty-two Nigerian volunteers, including Shlomo Ben Yaakov of Eden Hebrew Class, Kadmiel, Olachi, Edina, and a number of other energetic youth teachers.
While speaking with Mrs. Debbie Isser, the director of Camp Sarah, during an interview at the Tikvat Israel Synagogue, the venue of the camping, she disclosed that Camp Sarah generated funds for its activities through donations and fundraising. She mentioned that Rabbi Kerrit’s son Micah had his bar mitzvah this year, and for his bar mitzvah project, he asked people to contribute to Camp Sarah. She also said that people contributed to Camp Sarah in memory of her (Mrs. Debbie) mother, Charlotte (Sarah) Isser, a renowned Jewish educator who has contributed immensely towards Judaism. She laid emphasis on Camp Sarah’s mission of fostering a sense of community, strengthening the bond between campers, strengthening Jewish identity, and promoting leadership skills while having fun.
We begin every day with a big circle and end every day with a big circle; we have songs and other different activities, including leadership skills and bonding, as part of our daily activities.
Key activities that take place inside the camp include art and painting, singing, different kinds of presentation, public speaking, meditation, sports, and Jewish learning. These daily activities aim to transform and improve the children’s mental, physical, and spiritual skills. Camp organizers had put in place a standard grade system to measure and gauge overall performance and encouraged teamwork to achieve goals.
Both campers and volunteers shared positive experiences at the end, highlighting the sense of belonging, socialization, and Jewish connection that the camp has achieved. The camp’s vision and efforts received encouragement from Sar Habakkuk, leader of Tikvat Israel synagogue. The upcoming Succot edition of African Jewish Voices magazine will detail the variety of activities the campers went through. Stay tuned for more updates on Camp Sarah’s exciting experiences, including the use of a special printed siddur inside the camp!
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All Photo credit: Camp Sarah
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