What We Do

The circumstances of most peoples’ lives in Uganda, dictate a survival mode existence. Asking kids ‘what you want to do when you grow up’, typically engenders a response that living till tomorrow will be good.

To start a bigger conversation about what life could look like beyond survival mode, ALMU provides what campers describe as ‘huge amounts’ of food and creates an environment where the kids are able to let down their walls a bit, not having to worry about food or where to sleep or who they’re sleeping next to. They come with walls high and on day 2, they start settling in and realize there will be food again because it’s lunch time and again at dinner time and then ‘I’ll have a bed I get to sleep in all by myself tonight’. And there’s water, people who care about me and I’m having a good time too.

“Their hearts open up and it’s so rewarding because we create a safe, fun environment for them,” says Kindri Van Puffelen. “When we talk about peer pressure, sex and looking beyond yourself, working in teams, how to interact in such a way that looks out for the well-being of a group, we address so many different things. It all really starts with creating a place where they can feel safe.”

ALMU gets kids’ attention in a fun, camping environment and provides Education, Team Building, Leadership Training and Spiritual Enrichment opportunities:

Education

From her original experience teaching in Uganda, Kindri saw enormous opportunity to ‘step in the gap’ for sex education. ALMU offers holistic health education that talks about choosing to delay sexual activity. to graduate from school, find someone you care about and love. And we coach children on how to be both physically and emotionally healthy.

We start with the basics at camp trying to fill the gap where the school system is lacking. We are using a Life Skills Program to educate about…

Team Building

We use team competition and games to help the students learn how to work together, principles of sportsmanship, and to develop leadership. The students participate in sports, dance, and games throughout camp to earn points for their families. Learning through fun helps our life lessons stick! The family groups rotate through all camp activities together to form strong bonds between campers and staff, creating mentoring relationships.

Leadership Training

We use individual and team challenges to help students learn to believe in themselves. Activities help shape the character of the students who come to camp. They will learn to face fears and other challenges to find strength in community, themselves and Christ to accomplish their goals.

Spiritual Enrichment

Jesus Christ is the central focus of our lives and camp. He is the driving force for all we do and are. Students are invited into relationship with Christ and a richer and fuller life through Him. Everyday has times of focused worship and Biblical instruction. We have quiet times in the morning as well as small groups and each student receives a Bible when they arrive at camp.

ALMU has now run six camps in Uganda, and has graduated 317 children from eight different organizations. We now see repeat camper groups, and hear from the repeaters about how it’s impacted them individually – some having chosen not to drink, not to be sexually active, kids who are changing their circumstances. Counselors and leaders from other organizations in fact, have opened up with powerful stories about how the work has changed their own lives.