ART CAMP 2024
In 2024, we, as a team of 14 people from different parts of the Czech Republic, England and Canada, went to Kenya to lead workshops in all artistic disciplines or sports at camps for children and youth (ArtCamps). We flew to Kenya for three weeks, from 11.08. - 02.09. 2024. We collaborated with the local church on two camps in two villages, Ndere and Kapiyo, in the rural area of the western Kenya. Thanks to the help of local people, we worked with a group of around 200 children at each camp.
ArtCamp was run daily, so the children came to the venue every day, and they also received lunch and snacks there every day. Pastor Paul led Bible programs in which we reflected on examples of God's freedom in the Bible. Every day we tried to discuss in groups what this means for our everyday lives. During the week, we worked on the topic of freedom in workshops, and at the end of the week, we showed the result to parents and people in the church during the Sunday service.
Our goal was not a perfect result, but the path to it. We want to invest in the local young generation who live in a poor part of Kenya, where there are not so many opportunities for personal development and employment, and many people end up in addictions of various kinds. That is why we decided on the theme "Life in God's Freedom" in 2024.
Photo Gallery
Thank you for your support
Thank you so much for your generosity and all the support you have shown us in 2024 (both prayerful and financial) so that we can fulfill God's mission to the local people in Kenya. Last year we started and tested this journey. We sowed the first seeds of mutual trust and cooperation. We believe that despite our imperfections and different expectations, God has used it and will use it in the future. We believe that by God's grace, the transformation of one person can transform another and bring God's kingdom among us.
Testimonies
Aleš
I went to Kenya primarily to do an art workshop, where the intention was to create a sculpture or sculptures of "animals" from local materials - clay, dry grass, sticks and string, so that you can create something similar at any time without the possibility of buying something.
I had quite a few participants, but in return, I experienced deep feelings of mutual silent discipleship, as if I was becoming one of them. What I liked most were the moments when spontaneous creativity and mutual relationship came together. For example, moments when I started to spontaneously create something in my free time and the children spontaneously joined me. I realised that these could be the moments that could inspire them to be joyfully creative in everyday life. Or the moment when my most loyal "disciple" David, brought me a sculpture to show me of his own sculptures he creates at home.
I still remember a powerful situation when my friend Jenda and I got into a conversation with a poor man addicted to alcohol. We led him to go to Jesus and the church with his addiction. As he cried during the talk and prayer, we sensed that God was dealing with him.
I also liked the moments when we tried to change the experienced perspective that they could not do without us, and encouraged their value and uniqueness. When we encouraged them that they were good enough to develop their own projects to change their country for the better.
Miro
For me it was amazing to see different people, from different countries, men, women, teenagers to come together and go to different continent to be blessing for kids in Kenya. I just used the word "different" a lot and yes it was challenging in times, but we all had similar goal and you could see it in practise - unity does not mean sameness. It was great to see how everyone used his/her talents to share God's love. And as usual when you are about to serve/change others God is changing you as well - I could see how God was working on each member of the team. God was really taking care of us - there was no serious accident or sickness.
The camps with kids was joy. The communication in english worked very well. I was amazed by the football where was at times even 50-60 kids that there was absolutely no arguing and fighting! {i have very different experience from Czech with kids :-) The talks in groups were first challenging as the kids were quiet, but eventually we got to talk about God, their lives and families. Especially at the second camp were I had teenagers. I felt strongly God's love for this kids - my main message was that circumstances do surely matter and life in Kenya is not easy, but God is bigger than that - and that life in Europe is also not easy and that God is same for us all - in Kenya it might be a different kind of quality of life even though probably less comfortable than in Europe. My prayer is that these young lives will find peace and fulfillment in God's Spirit and empower their lives so that they don't live in constant feeling of need for something {material}
God Bless Kenya
Klárka
ArtCamp with Effatha was a dream project for me for a long time. I've been aware of how fulfilling working with children is for some time, but I didn't take it as a gift. From time to time, people would come to our church with presentations about mission work in Africa. I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for that and saw it as a mission for exceptional individuals. I would never have dreamed at the time that I would embark on a similar journey. I have known Hanka for several years through Effatha. When she first came up with the idea of organising ArtCamp, it seemed like something absolutely unreal. Yet I felt it could be the opportunity for me. I didn't want to act rashly, so I prayed and asked God for direction. After a time, I reached out to Hannah and she happily accepted me onto the team - and it was then that I realised I really should go.
The beginnings were not easy. It was challenging to put together a team because there were so few of us, but through God's guidance, it was finally done. Once everything was planned, we were ready to go. The whole trip was one big blessing. We felt God's protection all the time - nothing serious happened, no big problems occurred. Every day, more and more children joined us, and even though some days were physically and mentally exhausting, we stuck together and supported each other.
I think the children enjoyed the programme. Even though they were rather reticent about their faith and did not want to talk much about these topics, I believe that what they experienced can stay with them and maybe come back to them at the right time in their lives. Sometimes you just have to plant the seed and let God do with it as He wills. A huge motivation for me has been the children's joy in the little things. It made me realise how often I take things for granted and forget to be grateful. The local children opened my eyes in this regard and changed my perspective on the world.
I am incredibly grateful for this experience and how everything fell into place perfectly. I still find it incredible that I was able to be a part of such a beautiful project. Africa has grown close to my heart, and I feel a strong desire to go back. I thank God for His guidance and blessings, the whole team for their great collaboration, the locals for their hospitality, and everyone who supported us on this journey. It would not have been possible without you!
