Since Monday, Papaye has been buzzing with the energy of the KANPE Summer Camp. For this 7th edition, 73 young people aged 9 to 16 (nearly half of them girls) from the Central Plateau have come together for eight days of workshops, sports, conferences and music, running until August 10.
Busy days from start to finish
Each day begins early: physical education at sunrise, followed by workshops in crochet, drawing, painting, screen printing and music. For many of these young people, it’s a rare opportunity to try their hand at artistic disciplines they have little access to the rest of the year. Three days after opening, the first creations are already taking shape.
A daily conference to reflect on the future
The camp is also a place of learning. Each day is built around a themed conference. On Tuesday, the youth explored agroecology, which lies at the heart of KANPE’s approach to building resilient communities. This morning, the focus is on sexual and reproductive health, because accurate and accessible information is essential at this age. Next will come “Haiti: Origins and Culture,” to help them know their history and take pride in it, followed by agricultural entrepreneurship in the context of Baille Tourible, to show that agriculture can be a project for the future, right here at home.
Music in the spotlight: Paul Beaubrun has arrived
Today’s big news: Paul Beaubrun has arrived at camp! A Haitian artist and member of Arcade Fire, son of the founders of Boukman Eksperyans and a member of our board of directors, Paul is serving as music instructor for a second consecutive year, alongside Dalio, representative of Music Heals International (MHI), our partner for the music component of the camp. These encounters remind the young campers that the biggest dreams sometimes take root in a music workshop in the Central Plateau.
Bonus for those following us on Instagram: throughout the week, Paul is taking over our account to share the camp experience from the inside.
This edition also holds special meaning for our team: our Communications Manager, Hugo Merveille, is at the camp this year, marking a return to Haiti after more than eight years, to document the week and the life of the community.
A promising week ahead
Between now and Sunday, the youth still have great moments in store: an educational excursion to the agricultural project in Cerca-Carvajal on Saturday, led with Konbit Edikasyon, of which KANPE is a member, followed by the closing ceremony on Sunday, featuring a soccer match against a team from Papaye and an evening of recreational and cultural activities.
Another source of pride this year: four of the camp instructors are former campers and former members of the Baille Tourible marching band. Today, they lead the screen printing, painting, music and drawing workshops.
Why a summer camp?
At KANPE, we believe that community autonomy begins with youth. Giving young people a safe space to create, learn and express themselves means investing in the next generation of leaders in the Central Plateau.
Follow the camp day by day on our social media: photos, testimonials and highlights until August 10.
Want to support initiatives like this one? Your donation allows KANPE to continue its programs in health, education, agroforestry, leadership and entrepreneurship.
