AYC’s Annual Leadership and Life Skills Camp: Where Fun Meets a Future of Impact

Alumni

2 Sept

By Annabel Mumba
Annabel Mumba is AYC’s Donor Relations Coordinator in Zambia. She is a Scholarship Fund recipient, high school graduate and current college student, and also one of our Success Stories.

Co-written by Pamela O’Brien, African Education Program’s Development Director, who is mentoring Annabel as she pursues a journalism degree.

What started as a dream to create a space for youth to have fun and learn important life skills during the school holiday has grown into the most anticipated week of the year for students at the Amos Youth Centre (AYC): the Annual Leadership and Life Skills Camp.

AYC’s Co-Founder and the Executive Director of the African Education Program (AEP), Julie-Anne Savarit Cosenza, and her mother, AEP Board Member Marie-Odile Savarit, fondly known as "Momma Mario", envisioned a week-long camp that would teach lessons in leadership and life skills in a way that would stay with students forever.

That first year of camp in 2017, 50 students joined for a week of learning and fun where they participated in activities to foster leadership, life skills, health and reproductive education, theater, and art.

Over 100 girls and boys dressed in their dark blue camp shirt and matching hat, gather around Momma Mario, an older white woman with white hair who is dressed in light blue and wearing sunglasses. — *Campers gather around “Momma Mario” for a photo.*

Nine years later, the AYC Annual Leadership and Life Skills Camp is bigger and better than ever. In 2025, we welcomed 105 campers, including 12 from our Read for Rose Special Education Program. The selection process for campers is competitive, we have over 700 students in our programs, and only the students that regularly participate in AYC’s programming earn a spot. The staff that keep the students engaged and the week-long camp running smoothly are a mix of AYC staff and AYC high school graduates in the College Prep Program who volunteer their time at the camp. The camp staff are called “Vochellis” – a term that originated in South Africa and means 'camp leader’. The first campers chose this name to designate the camp staff at the first camp in 2017 and the name has stuck ever since.

The Unseen Work: Preparing for an Unforgettable Camp

The journey to camp begins long before the campers arrive. We distribute consent forms for parents and guardians, but the real work starts with our Vochellis. They undergo a two-day training, learning how to facilitate sessions, prepare content, and work with students with special needs. They’re also taught how to build relationships and respond to emergencies. This training ensures every leader is ready to create a safe and memorable experience for each camper.

Vochellis are assigned to lead lessons and activities in either Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Health & Life Skills, Theatre, Art & Crafts, or Team-Building. The Vochellis have planned lessons and activities to help campers develop essential skills, foster creativity, encourage teamwork, and promote personal growth through engaging and interactive experiences.

*The Arts & Crafts room always made campers smile.*

Day One: The Adventure Begins

The air on Day One is electric. At 8 a.m., campers and Vochellis gather at Shikoswe Secondary School, our campsite for the week. Every camper receives a camp t-shirt, and reusable water bottle. For some it’s their first experience at camp; for others, it’s a cherished return.

After a rundown of camp rules, we kick things off with warm-up activities. For ten minutes everyone focuses on sign language since six students with hearing impairments are joining camp this year. Campers learn to sign "hello," "how are you," "what is your name," and "thank you."

Marietta, a first-time camper said, "This was my first time at camp, and I made a new friend from Read for Rose named Annie. I enjoyed interacting with her in sign language." Her favorite activity was Art & Crafts. "It gave me back my interest in being an artist," she said. These moments, where young people rediscover passions and build friendships, make the camp unforgettable for the students and the Vochellis.

Day Two: The Leader Within

AYC campers dressed in their dark blue shirts and matching hats smile for the camera in front of their counselor who is dressed in a light blue shirt. — The Leadership Room was filled with deep thinkers solving their challenge of the day.

By Day Two, campers are eager to dive deeper. In the Leadership Room, Vochelli Momma Mario and her team use role playing to demonstrate qualities of good leadership.

Peter, another first-time camper, shared, "I learned that a leader is a kind person who puts the needs of others before his own. I also had a chance to make friends."

Camp is a place where students walk away with dreams rediscovered, friendships blossoming, and new lessons in leading not just others, but themselves.

Day Three: Banners of Change

Day Three buzzed with creativity as campers rushed to finish their group banners. These banners carried the camp’s theme: #BuildingTomorrow’sLeadersToday #Innovate #Inspire #Lead. This year, teams chose fruit identities—Pineapple, Orange, Strawberry, Kiwi, Apple, and Cherry — and designed banners to match their team names.

The highlight was a surprise visit from AYC Board Treasurer, Mr. Chipwele. During his visit, he encouraged the students to take advantage of the opportunities that the centre offers such as tutoring programs and reproductive health classes.

Day Four: Carnival and Color

The annual Carnival and Color Festival is always a special day for our campers. The day began with an obstacle course, where students applied leadership and teamwork skills across six obstacle course stations.

Campers and Camp Counselors participated in a color festival and are covered in colored chalk. — The Color Festival was a highlight for many campers.

Then came the much-awaited Color Festival. Vochellis and campers alike covered each other in bright colors, breaking down barriers between campers and Vochellis in a celebration of joy.

Returning camper Tionge shared, "I always look forward to the Color Festival and Carnival. I get to put color on the staff and many of my friends. The carnival games helped me practice all the lessons I learned, especially in the Team-Building Room."

That evening, students carried invitations home for their families to attend the Final Showcase.

Day Five: The Final Showcase

The day began with community service, as campers collected litter to reinforce the idea that leadership also means giving back. This was followed by a march-past, where students carried banners high to raise awareness about early marriage, teenage pregnancies, and youth empowerment. They marched with banners because they wanted their voices to be seen as well as heard, using simple but powerful messages that could spark conversations within the community. The aim was to challenge harmful norms, encourage parents to support girls’ education, and inspire young people to make healthier choices for their future. Community members paused to read the messages as the students walked, reflecting on their meaning. Kafue is still experiencing high levels of teenage pregnancies, and messages like these are key to educating the public and influencing decisions. The campers marched with confidence, their voices united.

With families and invited guests seated, the Showcase began. Campers performed dances and songs, recited poems, and spoke confidently about leadership.

Now that camp has ended, our campers return home equipped with leadership and team-building skills that will last a lifetime. The Amos Youth Centre Annual Leadership and Life Skills Camp is more than a week of fun—it’s a launchpad, preparing young people to take on responsibilities in their schools, communities, and future careers.