Boston Globe Profiles Founder of South African Camp for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS
The Boston Globe on Monday profiled Philip Lilienthal, who founded a summer camp outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, for children affected by HIV/AIDS. Lilienthal, who for 30 years ran Camp Winnebago in Maine, about a year and a half ago handed over direction of the U.S. camp to his son and formed an organization called WorldCamps because he "needed a challenge to go where there was a need." WorldCamps in December 2003 opened Camp Sizanani -- which means "helping each other" in Zulu -- with the aim of providing African children with HIV/AIDS education and "their first taste of endless days of planned, fun-filled activities," including arts and crafts, swimming, music, drama and outdoor activities, according to the Globe. Each 10- or 14-day session includes one hour of instruction each day on "life skills," including information on HIV/AIDS, sexuality and gender relations, the Globe reports. So far, about 780 children have attended Camp Sizanani -- which currently is funded almost solely by Lilienthal and his friends and family -- and WorldCamps plans to open additional camp sites in other African nations. Lilienthal is seeking donations from corporations, foundations and the U.S. government for WorldCamps, the Globe reports (Donnelly, Boston Globe, 1/24).
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