We are excited to introduce Ignite, an initiative designed to empower children from our community to become compassionate, active, and influential members of society!
Kindness Camp 2024
This summer, we're thrilled to introduce our inaugural Ignite Kindness Camp. From July 15th to July 19th, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 12:30 PM, join us for a transformative journey in compassion, activism, and community building!
Open to children ages 8-12, Kindness Camp promises a week filled with learning, creativity, and fun. Together, we'll explore the essence of kindness, discover what it means to be a humanitarian, and uncover the power of community strength. Through engaging activities, discussions, and reflections, campers will emerge as empowered changemakers!
While there's no fee for camp, we suggest a $150 donation per camper to cover food and supplies. Your generosity ensures every child can experience the magic of Kindness Camp!
Registration closes on 5/31!
Mission
Our mission is to ignite young hearts with the knowledge, skills, and passion needed to create a lasting impact on their communities. We will nurture a new generation of changemakers to LEARN about poverty, to DO something to make a difference, and to BE empowered individuals who illuminate a brighter, more compassionate future for all.
Purpose
The purpose of the program is to engage children from the community in a more powerful and impactful way. We want to give an opportunity for children to learn about poverty and its impact on youth and to be involved in positive social change. At least once per month, we will host a targeted group of children at the Empower4Life office for approximately one hour or ninety minutes.
Each IGNITE group session will follow a LEARN. DO. BE. format:
LEARN
During the first part of the session, we will talk to the participants about Empower4Life, the work we do, and why we do it. We will educate children about topics related to poverty and homelessness through a relatable presentation filled with many pictures and open-ended questions to ponder.
DO
The second part of the session will teach kids to take action. We will do something hands on that will directly make an impact on the community. Potential action items could include personal care kits, making blankets, etc or will be in direct relation to an ongoing E4L project (like decorating stockings for the holiday project or assembling activity packs for Camp Quest). We will connect the action item to what they have learned in the first part of the session.
BE
In the third part of the session, we will empower the participants to be changemakers in the community by teaching them that they can make a difference and be powerful in both small and big ways. We will encourage them to reflect on and share what they can do outside the walls of the E4L office to help make a change. Their ideas will be added to a wall in our office that will be designated specifically for this initiative. We will also give each participant a bracelet to take with them as a way for them to demonstrate the change they ignite in their community and create a chain reaction of kindness.
Our initiative's physical and virtual spaces stand as a testament to the collective power of our young changemakers. Led by our passionate mentor, Megan, we believe in nurturing a new generation of heroes who will shape a brighter world for all. Even the youngest among us can understand the importance of making a difference. Through monthly gatherings at our E4L office, we aim to instill in children the values and purpose behind our organization's work.
We invite you to join us on this journey of creating a better future, where small hands create big impacts and kindness knows no bounds.
Ignite is now scheduling private groups of children ages 5-16, such as sports teams, Girl Scout troops, camps, homeschool co-ops, neighborhoods, etc. Choose the private groups option in our sign ups and we’ll get back to you!
Email Megan with interest, questions, or any other needs about Ignite at: megan@empower4lifemd.org.