Meet the 2020 Camp Fi Team!
When COVID-19 began to spread throughout the world earlier this year, the Camp Fihavanana leadership team (Jessica, Laura, and I) had to make a difficult decision. We could no longer imagine hosting our flagship, in-person event. In early spring, we decided to cancel Camp Fihavanana 2020 to make room for healing, resting, and future planning during this time of uncertainty.
Heartbroken, we contacted the 2020 staff to tell them we would no longer hold our in-person event. The staff members that going to join us this year were truly incredible, and we sincerely hope that we can work with all of them in the near future.
Knowing the power that Camp Fihavanana has for our campers, we were still determined to bring that to life in some form. This led us to brainstorm ways to host a virtual Camp Fi experience online - and here we are! We are excited to spread camp magic past the shores of Madagascar and throughout the world, but we absolutely could not have made it this far alone. The three of us called in back up, reaching out to past Camp Fi staff members for help. We have been blown away with the passion, endurance, and creativity that they have brought to this uncharted territory.
Here are the familiar faces that have worked tirelessly to transform Camp Fi 2020 as a new and exciting experience. Say hello to the team, and learn about their favorites parts of Camp Fihavanana!
Bao Tohin'Ny Aina
Camp Fihavanana is made of magic all along the 3 weeks that I can't pick one specific day. Anytime that bond's being created, any moment that the campers feel like thriving and it shows up, every exchange made between staff members and campers, everytime we all learn from each other, those are the reasons why Camp got a main place on my list of "Place-to-be".
Caren Ramanantoanina
My favorite part of Camp Fihavanana is the feeling of home. CampFi is a place where you can be your true self without worrying about being judged, a place where you learn from others and where you are exposed with new perspectives, a place where you grow as a person through challenges and through giving.
Herizo
My favorite part of Camp Fihavanana is seeing campers' smile during activities
Jessica Razanadrakoto
I find life in witnessing both staff and campers grow deeper and stronger in who they are as a leader and an agent of change.
Jo Xizi Yu
My favorite part of camp Fihavanana is Waterfall day! Being together with everyone in nature and getting to know different people in different ways than during daily camp activities were my most precious memories of camp
Laura Patterson
My favorite part of Camp Fi is exploring the deep parts of our soul that we don't let the sun touch on a regular day. Camp Magic brings out our wild, our weird, and our vulnerable parts. I love the way I connect with others during Camp Fi. The friendships I have there with the other founders, staff, and campers are truly some of my most authentic, honest, and goofy relationships I have. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Miantso Soloharison
My favorite part of Camp Fihavanana is the night we spent all together sharing our stories. We shared what has brought us pain, what has brought us joy, what are the things that matter to us, how we see the world. During that night we did some activities including the Affirmation Web during which we have expressed gratitude to each other through words. For words are traces of what we are, they emerge from our soul like a scent of our cruelty or our goodness. That night, there was nothing but goodness and acceptance. Affirmation words bring acceptance ; acceptance of who I am, who the other is and where we want to be. And I think that it is something beautiful.
RAMASIMANANA Océane Steffy
My favorite part of Camp Fihavanana is the ability of an inner soul to grow. It describes the way of how much a person, no matter which place he or she takes part on Camp, contributes to a common development that leads to what the goal was set up for : Fihavanana. A simple Malagasy word and a very important Malagasy value, which holds on to a large possibilities of meanings, but especially, as I personally see, of what makes a human being human, which comes to peace.
RANDIMBIARISON Johany Marios
My favorite part of Camp Fihavanana is certainly the night of the first day we arrived. After we met with each over, I looked at the stars and in that exact moment, I felt a kind of excitation inside my whole body. It was intense, like those morning cold showers.
Ranja Hariman
Through this discovery, you learn how to become a better version of yourself.
Sedra Harinandriana
My favorite part of Camp Fihavanana is the moment when we finished the hill climb and are debriefing along the river.
Sophie Connot
My favorite part of Camp Fihavanana is witnessing the growth of both the campers and staff members from the start of the week to the end of the week. We come together as strangers with different experiences, but we leave as a family: an inspired, excited, and ready to change the world family.
Stephan Laboy
My favorite part about Camp Fihavanana is getting to see all the young, inspiring Malagasy who will become leaders in their communities. Where life can be challenging and sometimes seem hopeless, Camp Fi is a safe place for these young men and women to grow and learn intangible life skills.
T Montes
My favorite part of Camp Fihavanana is being my fullest, most authentic self!
Tongasoa Jefferson Julianot RAKOTOMALALA
My favorite part of camp Fihavanana is sharing my experience with the team and helping others