December Summer Camp 2025 Gbarnga, Bong County

We are pleased to share with you our 2025 Summer Camp General Report, covering activities conducted in Gbarnga City, Bong County, North Central Liberia. Please note that this report does not include financial information. It focuses on program activities, participant feedback, and recommendations from students, volunteers, and senior staff.

This report is a consolidated summary of submissions from volunteers who supported the summer camp. In keeping with our commitment to transparency, all past and future reports will be published on our website for reference and donor access.

We sincerely thank our volunteers and senior staff for their dedication and continued support of our mission to advance women and girls’ education in Liberia. We welcome your questions, suggestions, and recommendations as we plan future initiatives.

The Kathy Justice Girls Educational Foundation Liberia December Summer Camp with the Theme: “Learning, Leading and Growing Together” held from December 26 – 28, 2025 in Gbarnga, Bong County, brought together 35 teen girls for a dynamic event focused on leadership, social issues and spiritual growth. This report provides an overview of the 2025 December Summer Camp. The three days camp served 35 campers aged between 9 – 20. The Camp was a resounding success, marked by exceptional participation, achieved learning outcomes, and overwhelmingly positive feedback from campers, parents and volunteers.

Key achievements include a successful implementation of about 90% of camp activities, high return rate from participants & zero record of critical incidents. This success is credited to our dedicated staff/volunteers, board members and the ongoing support of our CEO & Founder.

Summer Camp Objectives

Leadership Development:

  • Cultivate leadership skills among young people to empower them as future leaders in their communities.

Education on Social Issues and Career Development:

  • Raise awareness and provide education on critical social issues such as substance abuse, gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS awareness, sexual consent, and family planning.
  • Equip young people with knowledge and tools for career development and future opportunities.

Spiritual Growth:

  • Introduce non-Christians to the teachings of God, fostering spiritual exploration.
  • Strengthen the faith of Christian attendees and build Christian leadership among them.

Participants

The Summer Camp was attended by over 50 participants, including 19 young girls who are beneficiaries of the Kathy Justice Girls Education Foundation Liberia (KJGEFL) scholarship program. These beneficiaries represent the core focus of the Foundation’s mission to support and empower vulnerable girls through access to education and personal development opportunities.

All participants came from four counties across Liberia Grand Bassa, Montserrado, Margibi, and Bong Counties reflecting the camp’s broad reach and inclusive nature. Bringing together young people from different regions provided a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange, peer learning, and the building of strong social networks among participants.

In addition to the scholarship beneficiaries, the remaining participants were drawn from local churches in Gbarnga. Their inclusion enriched the camp experience by promoting diversity, mutual understanding, and community integration. Participants engaged in shared learning experiences that encouraged collaboration, respect, and teamwork across different backgrounds.

The diverse composition of the camp strengthened discussions, group activities, and leadership exercises, allowing participants to learn from one another’s experiences and perspectives. Overall, the strong turnout and wide representation demonstrated the high level of community interest in youth development initiatives and reaffirmed the importance of creating safe, supportive spaces where young people can grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Key Activities

Day 1: December 26, 2025

  • Departure of the team from Monrovia to Camp venue
  • Arrival of the team to Gbarnga, Bong County; camp venue
  • Thanksgiving service to reference God for safe arrival
  • Announcement by Camp Coordinator and team members, self-introductions of campers & volunteers and teaching of camp rules to campers
  • Dinner follows afterwards

Day 2: December 27, 2025

  • Rise and shine – preparations for morning exercise, follow by showering of campers
  • Morning devotion – gathering for prayers as a team before the start of the day’s activities
  • Breakfast
  • Debriefing of staff and volunteers to provide feedback of the camp experience so far
  • Teaching sessions: the first session was presented by Ms. Lorpu who presented on Family Planning Methods and types of Family Planning. The second session was done by Mr. Jefferson Knight Substance Use and its Impact
  • Lunch break
  • A series of games were played indoor by both campers and volunteers, including balloon race, ribbon game, etc. The game session was climaxed by kickball, a Liberian game played by females. The campers were divided into a team of two and competed against each other.
  • Preparation for the group presentations. Campers took bath and freshen up to get ready for the presentations.
  • Group presentations five groups consisting of seven girls each presented on five topics: Teenage Pregnancy, Gender Based Violence, the Importance of Girls Education, Consent, and the Importance of Safeguarding for Girls
  • Dinner time
  • Bedtime

Day 3: December 28, 2025

  • Rise & Shine
  • Thanksgiving service in appreciation to God for a successful camp.
  • Brunch
  • Departure of the team from camp.

Outcomes

  • Participants showed increased confidence in leadership roles.
  • 90% of girls reported improved understanding of social issues and career development.
  • 20 plus girls committed to applying skills learned at the camp in their communities and schools.
  • Positive feedback on spiritual growth and bonding experiences.
  • Safety Record: Zero serious injuries or critical incidents. All health and safety protocols were followed diligently.

Challenges

  • Constant electricity outage on the first day of the camp.
  • Limited time for the duration of the Camp.
  • Ensuring participant engagement through the camp.

Recommendations

Based on the success and learning from this Camp, we recommend:

  • Increase learning resources, and budget allocation for future camps.
  • Incorporate more interactive activities for engagement.
  • Consider extending camp duration for deeper impact.
  • Marketing – develop a targeted campaign to attract more campers from local community, churches and underprivileged girls.

Conclusion

The December Summer Camp held in Gbarnga, Bong County was a truly memorable and transformative experience marked by joy, learning, and meaningful connections. The camp successfully fulfilled its mission of providing a safe, supportive, and enriching environment where teenage girls could explore their potential, build confidence, and thrive both individually and collectively. Throughout the program, participants were actively engaged in activities that promoted leadership development, social awareness, and spiritual growth, leaving a lasting impact on their personal and academic journeys.

One of the key achievements of this year’s camp was the empowerment of teenage girls through structured leadership sessions, discussions on pressing social issues, and opportunities for self-expression. Campers gained valuable knowledge on topics such as personal responsibility, decision-making, community engagement, and future career pathways. These sessions not only increased awareness but also equipped the girls with practical life skills necessary to navigate the challenges they face in their communities. The interactive nature of the camp fostered confidence, teamwork, and mutual respect among participants from diverse backgrounds.

Spiritual development also played a central role in the camp experience. Through faith-based activities, reflections, and mentorship, the camp created space for spiritual exploration, strengthening the faith of Christian participants while respectfully introducing spiritual values to others. This holistic approach helped nurture moral character, resilience, and a sense of purpose among the campers, reinforcing the importance of integrity, compassion, and service to others.

The success of the December Summer Camp would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of many stakeholders. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the senior leadership team of the Kathy Justice Girls Education Foundation Liberia, whose vision and guidance continue to drive impactful programming for girls’ education and empowerment. We also extend sincere appreciation to our volunteers, facilitators, and associate partners who generously contributed their time, skills, and resources to ensure the camp’s success. Special thanks go to the parents and guardians for trusting us with their children, and to our donors whose continued support makes initiatives like this possible.

While the camp was highly successful, it also provided valuable lessons. Challenges encountered during the implementation have offered important insights that will help improve planning, coordination, and program delivery in future camps. With thoughtful adjustments and continued collaboration, future editions of the Summer Camp will be even more impactful and inclusive.

In conclusion, the Kathy Justice December Summer Camp stands as a strong testament to the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to supporting women and girls’ education across Liberia while fostering global citizenship. We look forward to building on this success and delivering an even more enriching and transformative camp experience in 2026 and beyond.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

THOMAS MALORD SAYDEE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICIAL

KATHY JUSTICE GIRLS EDUCATIONAL

FOUNDATION LIBERIA (KJGEFL)