The Feeling of Belonging
The honesty, the timing and the insight make this story so precious. This is the story of a lost girl from the Big Island, stepping in Camp Fihavanana for the first time in her life. In Madagascar, we are not used to summer camp. Camp Rock with Demi and Joe was surely the only camp I knew when I was a kid.
On the first day, I was excited and afraid at the same time. I could not wait to meet the team. But on the other hand, I was afraid that I wouldn't be enough, or maybe too much in the things that I would do. Jessica, Sophie, Riley and Zina’s smiles were the first things I saw when I arrived. My heart was full of hope and a little voice in my head was whispering to me « This is going to be an unforgettable journey! »
Day by day, we got closer to each other through each activity, each dinner, each sleepless night talking about ourselves and our interests. Listening to the other staffers’ stories inspired me and warmed my heart. The art of listening is too often underrated - we only think of what we’re going to say and not really what the other person is saying. Through Camp Fihavanana, I learned again the art of listening, and listening to the kids’ history was one of my favourite things during the camp.
Precious were the moments I passed laughing, playing lacrosse, basketball and soccer with the kids and the team. I was part of the red team. We used to hug each other every time we ended the day. Words are important but sometimes a hug expresses gratitude than words could ever do. That’s the place where love will meet you, with arms so warm it will melt away the winter in an instant.
For two weeks, I was giving a lot, and as I shared, I received back. That may be true that in our darkest hours, we understand what we want and who we are. But in our brightest hours, we find the courage to be unapologetically us. And that’s what happened at Camp Fi in Moramanga. The greatest power lies in our words, and those are the ones I’d like to write to keep people safe and to make them feel enough: tell your story and hear from others, remain to be kind in every situation and always stay true to yourself. “Look for the light within you. Feel it surge like a river through your veins. Use it to will your dreams into existence.’’
Then you will find people, and you will change their life by crossing their path. You will meet someone who exists on the same frequency as you, a blissful feeling that you belong together, the feeling to be completely at home. Because that’s what we experienced at Camp Fihavanana and that’s what Fihavanana is.
Miantso Soloharison is a Camp Fihavanana Staff member and participated in Camp Fi 2019. This story reflects her personal experience. All opinions expressed in this post are her own.