For over 20 years Caring & Sharing (C&S) has provided an opportunity for Ismaili youth aged 8-12 from the UK and Europe to meet and engage with one another, to form life-long friendships and to challenge themselves in a safe and positive environment. The beginning of the Ismaili camp journey; it offers a unique environment; whereby Ismaili youth are able to interact with their peers and develop a sense of pride and belonging within the community. It aims to be a launchpad onto other camps such as Encounters, Al-Ummah as well as Global Encounters.
C&S 2018 was a very special year in the camp’s timeline as after five great years at PGL Liddington, C&S was held for the first time at JCA Condover Hall in the picturesque Shropshire countryside. Nearly 200 participants and facilitators were able to enjoy a new selection of activities, from Aerial Trek and Laser Maze to a sensory trail and even tunnelling, allowing participants to not only conquer their fears, but also develop their independence and enhance their leadership skills.
Our faith is a core part of all camps, with morning and evening ceremonies of Jamatkhana carried out every day. Participants are encouraged to take ownership of Jamatkhana, from conducting Jamati ceremonies to managing the Jamat as uniformed volunteers. By doing this, participants began to understand how our faith fits into our everyday life.
“Gratitude” - a key pillar of our ethics and value system, was chosen as the camp theme. Over the weekend, participants were able to explore what they are grateful for. The weekend started out with answers of ‘my PS4!’ when asked what participants are most thankful for, but after successful discussions with their facilitators, participants articulated their gratitude for non-material things such as friends, family and the Ismaili community. The value for this camp manifested itself in C&S 2018’s Gratitude Tree. Throughout the four days, participants expressed their gratitude on a green post-it leaf which was then attached to an empty tree. The tree started out barren, but by the end of camp had blossomed into a full and healthy gratitude tree!
This year, evening entertainment proved to be a huge hit, kicking off with the C&S parade, a high energy evening with participants showcasing their group identity whilst wearing costumes then competing in small games against other teams. The inaugural C&S Arts Show took place on the Saturday, taking inspiration from the recent Jubilee Arts programme. Participants engaged in a two-hour creative session in which they created, a short three-minute group performance. Performances took a variety of forms and all the participants were able to showcase their individual talents in a group ensemble making it a very enjoyable night. C&S 2018 closed with Disco Dodgeball; an exciting twist on the annual C&S Disco. This was a night full of good music, healthy competition and good vibes all around. Every evening ended with group reflective sessions, where participants discussed the positives of the day and what they can improve on tomorrow, all over traditional C&S hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Caring & Sharing 2018 was a huge success and hopes to continue to provide a strong foundation for youth to engage with the Ismaili community. The success of such a programme would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the organising team and facilitators, who truly embody the notion of voluntary service that is so deeply rooted in our faith. They work tirelessly to ensure participants receive the best possible experience. We hope many more youth will be able to experience this wonderful opportunity.
