Volunteering for Camp Ohana

May 10, 2015 by Amos Balongo

Volunteering for Camp Ohana

There is a great reward and satisfaction to be gained through volunteering. This reward is, of course, not of the traditional kind, but of something else. This is the kind of reward that transcends monetary rewards. That being said, of course monetary value is important today. We need money to move and survive. However there is power from doing work simply because you believe in it. Passion and integrity fuel your efforts and the money follows as a bonus. The greatest satisfaction to be gained from this is the difference that volunteering makes in every life you touch.

Volunteering for a good cause ensures that lives will be enhanced and people empowered. There is a different kind of reward that comes with helping people. It is a different kind of thrill that money cannot buy. It is truly rewarding knowing that you are making a difference.

Camp Ohana provides volunteers with this kind of satisfaction. The organization helps underprivileged children of Kenya in various ways. Through its strong volunteer program Camp Ohana provides Kenyan children various opportunities to grow and develop themselves through play, education, protection of the environment, health and wellness and more. Through its dedicated volunteers and generous donations, Camp Ohana provides displaced and underprivileged Kenyan children with opportunities that they would never have realized. Volunteering at Camp Ohana is fun, productive and fulfilling because you know that you are genuinely helping children get a second chance at a better life. Volunteer or donate today and see for yourself the power of volunteering and giving of yourself.

By Amos Balongo
Chairman and CEO
Camp Ohana Foundation

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Camp Ohana Foundation
411 Walnut Street, Suite 7797
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone No : 515-864-7002
Email : info@campohana.org

Camp Ohana Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity Nonprofit Organization. Donations and Gifts are Tax deductible

Donate to Camp Ohana

Words For the Future

November 6, 2014 by Amos Balongo

Words For the Future

Reading will allow a child to gain access to their future. It's true that being literate opens up the world as far as jobs are concerned. Expanding the mind through imagination is also important. Having an imagination is so much more than allowing a child to build a world of pretend play. It allows for creative thinking in other markets as well. Reading can enable them to come up with new ideas in their future jobs, react to changes in family life, and bolster self esteem through self creativity. The question is not is reading worth while, but how do you get a child interested?

Build Them Up

Hopefully everyone will get the chance to visit a library in their lifetime. However, life can become busy and rides are not always available. To ensure reading is an easy access hobby consider building up your own personal library collection. The prospect may sound daunting, but it is not far out of reach. Start by looking into your family's interests. Also, keep in mind the various ages and reading levels. These bits of information will make sure the funds for your books are invested wisely.

Books can be expensive, especially if they are hardback. Here are a few money saving tips to help stock your library without breaking your bank account. Use your interest and age considerations list to visit yard sales and flea markets. There are always a few books to be had and you can get a book that once sold for high prices with the change in your pocket. These are great locations for children's books and early readers for kids. Often, as the children in the household age, the family will be interested in clearing out the items no longer relevant. While at these sales don't be afraid to politely haggle. Keep in mind the condition of the book and how much you want to spend. Stick to your budget and buy items to last.

Know Your Literature

If you choose to go to a bookstore there are a few tricks to saving a penny or two. Always start at the discount sections. Often you will find popular titles that are released for less because they were last year's number one hit. This is a great way to get hardback copies. You can often locate classics on your child's school reading list here as well.

Another little trade secret is the traditional and trade paperback. There are three types of print books: hardback, trade paperback, and paperback. Being willing to wait for your favorite author can pay off. Hardbacks will always be the most expensive and it is typical for a successful writer to release a paperback version six months to a year after the hardback. Not all authors release in a standard paperback size. A trade paperback is slightly taller and more expensive than the standard, but will still save you money. Prices will often run like $29.99 for the hardback edition, $9.99 for the trade paperback, and $7.99 for the standard paperback. This is not specific, merely an example.

The Internet

Another place to look for previously owned books can be used book stores as well as online. The advantage to the used book store is you will know your sales tax and there is no shipping charge. Prominent online sellers will often have the new option and right below the listing are used offers. You can decide the price you wish to spend and find the best condition of book for your budget. Keep an eye out for free shipping offers!

Building a personal library doesn't need to be a fantasy. Having diverse literature at your family's finger tips is within your reach. Set a budget and keep your eyes open. If you wish to make this kind of opportunity available to someone else please feel free to visit our site. In a very short amount of time you can give your children and others access to reading, and through reading, the world.

By
Amos Balongo
Chairman and CEO
Camp Ohana Foundation
November 11th 2014

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Camp Ohana Foundation
411 Walnut Street, Suite 7797
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone No : 515-864-7002
Email : info@campohana.org

Camp Ohana Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity Nonprofit Organization. Donations and Gifts are Tax deductible

Donate to Camp Ohana

Youth group activities find children thriving

October 26, 2014 by Amos Balongo

youth group activities find children thriving

Camp Ohana enables the poorest underprivileged children in western Kenya to discover their potential to later share with the world while they are currently being supported by a global ‘ohana’, meaning family. Those children are anxious to participate in many different programs and learn how important it is to be part of a team in youth group activities that will be a stepping stone to leading a successful life in the future as a good citizen of a community.

Why is recreation important? Play is an essential part of growing physically, mentally and emotionally and is a builder of self-confidence. Play is also the way children learn new skills and discover their interests and special often hidden talents.

A sport, such as soccer, offers kids the opportunity to learn how to play and work well with others. Cooperation is necessary for it isn’t possible to win games without helpful teammates just as it isn’t possible to succeed in life without other people. The skills taught in playing sports are ones that children will need through their lives.

The important lesson of perseverance is also taught by sports. One has to keep trying and not give up even when things are difficult, just as will come up in situations in later years.

Camp Ohana provides those children in villages in Kenya with equipment and programs for athletics as well as music and art along with coaches and teachers to guide them in the proper use of what they are given. The prime goal is to develop their future potential for themselves and as leaders for their community and the world.

For more information on the important programs of Camp Ohana Foundation and how your donation of as little as $5.00 per month can fund the project of your choice, please visit our contact us in Green CV Springs, Florida, by telephone at 515- 864-7002 or by email at info@campohana.org.

By
Amos Balongo
Chairman and CEO
Camp Ohana Foundation
October 26th 2014

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Camp Ohana Foundation
411 Walnut Street, Suite 7797
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone No : 515-864-7002
Email : info@campohana.org

Camp Ohana Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity Nonprofit Organization. Donations and Gifts are Tax deductible

Donate to Camp Ohana

Help Support Our Girls Mentoring Program

October 22, 2014 by Amos Balongo

The statistics on Kenyan girls from poor families are sobering and alarming. Because few attend school, they can't imagine a future of anything but poverty. Unfortunately, others in the community reinforce the message that Kenyan girls can’t learn valuable skills or eventually have a rewarding career. At the Camp Ohana Foundation, we intend to change that by supporting our girls mentoring program. With training and encouragement from adult role models, we believe that these girls can grow to become self-sufficient and make a powerful difference in their communities.

Carefully Matched Mentors

When a girl joins our mentoring program, we carefully match her with an adult woman who shares her interests and is successful in her own career. Our mentors spend quality one-on-one time getting to know the girl. This is the best way for the mentor to understand the dreams of her new young friend. Mentors model leadership and, most importantly, reprogram the girl's internal message that she can't succeed. We believe that all young Kenyan girls are capable of great things when they are supported and nurtured.

Weekly Curriculum

Girls in our mentoring program also have the opportunity to hear guest speakers and complete weekly curriculum on career training. We don't expect girls at this young age to know exactly the type of work they want to do in the future. Instead, we provide reading material that allows them to explore numerous types of careers on their own. Of course, we are there to encourage them if they do discover something they want to pursue.

It Doesn't Take Much to Help Our Girls Mentoring Program

Our foundation understands how easy it is to feel discouraged about problems like this and feel there is nothing you can do. We have made it easy for you to support girls in need with our $5 monthly micro donation program. Please contact us to learn more about this or other sponsorship options.

Amos Balongo
Chairman and CEO
Camp Ohana Foundation
October 22nd 2014

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Camp Ohana Foundation
411 Walnut Street, Suite 7797
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone No : 515-864-7002
Email : info@campohana.org

Camp Ohana Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity Nonprofit Organization. Donations and Gifts are Tax deductible

Donate to Camp Ohana

Education for underprivileged children

October 20, 2014 by Amos Balongo

Importance of Education for Underprivileged Children

For hundreds of underprivileged children in western Kenya in remote villages isolated from the rest of the world by geography, poverty, and a lack of education and technology, Camp Ohana is the answer to prayers. “Ohana” means family, and these children are supported by global donations that allow them to experience that type of loving family and to take part in the type of education that young people in other countries take for granted. Encouragement is given in many programs to enable these children to not only benefit and learn their true potential at the present time but to become citizens and leaders in the future.

Many of these young ones have never held a book in their hands, and Camp Ohana is leading a project to build the first children’s library in western Kenya with completion scheduled for mid-2015. There will be thousands of books, other educational materials, educational programs, and tutoring for science, math and other school subjects. Almost one in five of the children there is illiterate, and learning how to read and write is essential to give the skills needed to go further in life.

It has been important to teach them how to grow nourishing crops and enjoy sanitary and safe water from the 2013 project of a well built for approximately 200 families, which means 1,200 people. An agricultural program teaches practical farming skills on communal farmland, which is a cost and space efficient vertical farming system in which hundreds of varieties of vegetables and fruits are grown. The produce is then distributed to the poorest families, which gives the added satisfaction of learning the thrill of making contributions to the health of the community.

Every three months, a health and wellness program provides a hygiene kit to over 300 children. This kit contains a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a bar of soap to a child who has never owned a toothbrush nor had soap to wash their hands to prevent disease.

Cross-cultural exchange and mentorship programs enable the children to build connections through pen pals from around the world in order to share their culture, broaden their horizons, and make new friends through an exciting adventure. Schools in the United States, Canada and Spain are part of the Camp Ohana Culture Club, with new schools joining all the time.

These children are anxious to learn new skills, discover hidden talents in arts or sports, gain confidence, have cultural exchanges, and slowly learn how to manage in the world as they grow up.

To learn much more about providing education to these underprivileged children and change their lives with a donation of as little as $5.00 a month, please contact us.

Amos Balongo
Chairman and CEO
Camp Ohana Foundation
October 19th 2014

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Help & Support

Camp Ohana Foundation
411 Walnut Street, Suite 7797
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
Phone No : 515-864-7002
Email : info@campohana.org

Camp Ohana Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity Nonprofit Organization. Donations and Gifts are Tax deductible

Donate to Camp Ohana