Friendship Camps 2010

Send a Camp to Kids!

Friendship Camps 2010

This summer the New Jersey Synod, ELCA, will host 15 Friendship Camps throughout Bosnia. These camps are for children ages 10-13 (and anyone else who shows up!), and are intended to help bring Healing, Hope & Peace, into their lives and their communities. Each camp has anywhere from 60-350+ students, with 10-20 teachers present. We hope to serve over 2,300 children this summer.

Our Friendship Camps will focus on teamwork, the strength found in a diverse group of people working together, and on the fun of tackling a shared challenge. We use music and drama exercises, conflict resolution and diversity training. We’ll spend the day with the children playing together, singing together, sharing stories, creating art, and eating and laughing together. We’ll give the children, the teachers in attendance that day, and the schools some gifts – including the gift of our time and love.

Every Friendship Camp needs to be Sponsored!

We'll be sure to bring back photos and and a gift to all Friendship Camp Supporters, Partners and Sponsors!

Itinerary of Friendship Camps 2010
Visoko Camp - partially Sponsored by St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Woodbury, NJ; $2,100 still needed!
Gradacac Camp - partially Sponsored by St Michael Lutheran Church, Cherry Hill, NJ & Friends; $1,000 still needed!
Brcko Camp - Sponsorship ($2,400) still needed!
Kozarac/Trnopolje Camp - Sponsored by St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Wayne, NJ
Prijedor Camp - Sponsored by The Winkelmans (St. Michael Lutheran Church, Cherry Hill)
Sanski Most Camp - Sponsorship ($2,400) still needed!
Travnik Camp - Sponsored by Our Savior Lutheran Church, Haddonfield, NJ
Sipovo Camp - Sponsorship ($2,400) still needed!
Jajce Camp - Sponsored by Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Marlton, NJ and the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Pompton Plains, NJ
Srebrenica (Leptir) Camp - Sponsored by St. John Lutheran Church, Summit, NJ
Foca Camp - Sponsored by Christ Lutheran Church, Paramus, NJ
Gorazde Camp - Sponsored by St Michael Lutheran Church, Cherry Hill, NJ & Friends
Mostar Camp - Sponsored by Danish Children’s Home Fund
Sarajevo Camp - partially Sponsored in honor of Katie Sharpe (St. John Lutheran Church, Summit, NJ); $900 still needed!
Vojkovici Camp - Sponsored by Sandi and Neil Kessner

Below are notes, and Camp Sponsors, of our 2010 Friendship Camps

Visoko Camp
June 21, 2010

partially SPONSORED BY ST. STEPHEN LUTHERAN CHURCH, WOODBURY, NJ; $2,100 still needed!
Sports Equipment donated by Klophaus Family

Visoko is a town just north of Sarajevo. During the war many refugees fled there from Sarajevo and other parts of the country. The main part of the school first housed refugees and the military, which left it in ruins. This is a very special school, where both the children and staff still seem fragile and extra special. Though we couldn’t visit Visoko last year, this will be our 8th year visiting this precious school!

Gradacac Camp
June 22, 2010

partially SPONSORED BY ST. MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, CHERRY HILL, NJ & FRIENDS; $1,000 still needed!
Sports Equipment donated by Holy Communion Lutheran Church, Berlin, NJ

Gradacac is a town in north-central Bosnia that bravely defended itself from many attacks during the war. The community has worked hard to rebuild since then, though the children still must be very careful of the thousands of land mines still in the ground outside of the city. This Friendship Camp is always one of our largest and most energetic. The whole city welcomes us when we come to Gradacac! We had to miss Gradacac last year, and are grateful to be returning for our 9th visit!

Brcko Camp
June 22, 2010

THIS CAMP NEEDS SPONSORING!
Sports Equipment donated by Holy Communion Lutheran Church, Berlin, NJ

Brcko lies on the northern border with Croatia, in a unique part of the country known as the Brcko District - one that is is neither a part of the Croat-Bosniak Federation or Serb Republik of Bosnia. This school is one of the best examples of honoring children of all ethnic backgrounds. We couldn’t visit here last year, but are very glad to be returning this year for our 6th visit!

Kozarac/Trnopolje Camp
June 23, 2010

SPONSORED BY ST. TIMOTHY LUTHERAN CHURCH, WAYNE, NJ
Sports Equipment donated by St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Wayne, NJ

Kozarac is a small town in north-west Bosnia. It is in Republik Srpska (the Serb-controlled section of Bosnia), though prior to the war it was 85% Bosniak (Muslim). During the war, Kozarac had a rape house set up by the Serb authorities, and was next to the notorious Trnopolje Concentration Camp, where detainees were abused, some tortured, raped or even killed. In Kozarac, our team stays in Srcem do Mira's (Through Hearts to Peace) remarkable House of Peace. The Friendship Camp is usually small, but very important. This year we’re trying something special by inviting children from the Trnopolje School (on the grounds of the Concentration Camp!) to join us. Our hope is that this will open up the opportunity to hold a Friendship Camp in Trnopolje next year. This will be our 7th year in Kozarac!

Prijedor Camp
June 23, 2010

SPONSORED BY THE WINKELMANS (St. Michael Lutheran Church, Cherry Hill)
Sports Equipment donated by Alice Wright

Prijedor is a city in north-western Bosnia, just above Kozarac. This town saw no direct fighting during the war because of its Serb control. Much of the atrocities in the area were based out of Prijedor, which makes our need to work with the children of this community all the more imperative. This will be our first opportunity to hold a Friendship Camp in Prijedor!

Sanski Most Camp
June 24, 2010

THIS CAMP NEEDS SPONSORING!
Sports Equipment donated by Christ Lutheran Church, Paramus, NJ

Prior to the war, Sanski Most held large Serb and Bosniak (Muslim) populations. During the war, it was taken over by the Bosnian-Serb forces of the Republika Srpska, and was under Bosnian-Serb control from the spring of 1992 to 1995. During this time, large parts of the non-Serb population either fled or was forcibly expelled. In October 1995, the city was entered by the forces of the Army of Bosnia-Herzegovina, shortly before the end of the war. This triggered a mass exodus of the Serb population. Today its population is primarily Bosniak. The teachers and students are very wonderful and so welcoming. We are very excited to be returning here for our 3rd visit!

Travnik Camp
June 24, 2010

SPONSORED BY OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH, HADDONFIELD, NJ
Sports Equipment donated by Alice Wright

(Notes to follow)

Sipovo Camp
June 25, 2010

THIS CAMP NEEDS SPONSORING!
Sports Equipment donated by the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Sunday School, Maywood, NJ

Sipovo is a small town in central Bosnia, in Republik Srpska (the Serb-controlled section of Bosnia). During the war no fighting took place in Sipovo, but for a time it was held by opposition forces, which expelled the local, mainly Serb, residents. Since the war it has struggled to recover economically, as Republik Srpska receives little international aid. This is one of the towns we visit where many of the children seem to suffer from significant poverty. Though our first Frienship Camp, in 2000, was met with some mistrust, the people of Sipovo have graciously opened their town to us for many wonderful years. This is one of our largest camps each year, where we often have to, regretfully, turn many children away because of their overwhelming numbers. This will be our 11th great year in Sipovo!

Jajce Camp
June 25, 2010

SPONSORED BY PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH, MARLTON, NJ and THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOR, POMPTON PLAINS, NJ;
Sports Equipment donated by Pastor Jeff, Kim, Joshua, and Aaron Miller; First Lutheran Church, Clifton, NJ

Jajce is famous for its beautiful waterfall where the lake Pliva meets the river Vrbas. It is also home to the ruins of St. Luke's, a church that once held the actual bones of the Apostle Luke! At the beginning of the war, Jajce was inhabited by people from all ethnic groups, and was situated at a junction between areas of Serb majority to the north, Bosnian Muslim majority areas to the south-east and Croatian majority areas to the south-west. In 1992, after almost all Serbs left the city and fled to territory under Bosnian Serb control, Jajce was heavily bombed by Serb forces. Most of the houses and government building were totally destroyed. The city was under Serb control until the Croatian army retook the city in the summer of 1995. Recently this became a “two schools under one roof”, where they separate the Croat and Bosniak (Muslim) children into separate rooms, each with their own, different curriculum. While this (illegal) situation is deplorable, it is all the more reason for us to be in this community, with these children. This will be our 6th year in Jajce.

Srebrenica (Leptir) Camp
June 27, 2010

SPONSORED BY ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH, SUMMIT, NJ
Sports Equipment donated by Emmanuel Lutheran Church, New Brunswick, NJ

Srebrenica is a small town in the far east of Bosnia – very near the border of Serbia. It is in Republik Srpska (the Serb-controlled section of Bosnia). During the war, Srebrenica was declare a UN Safe-Zone. Near the end of the war Srebrenica (with its large Muslim population) was overrun by Serb forces who, in their attempt to ethnically cleanse the area, massacred over 8,000 unarmed civilian men and boys. This is the largest massacre in Europe since WWII. Today Srebrenica still bears many deep scars from the war; psychologically, physically, socially, spiritually. At this Friendship Camp we'll hold a party with the children of Leptir (butterfly), a wonderful program for children with disabilities. These kids are great! This will be our 4th year with these amazing children!

Foca Camp
June 28, 2010

SPONSORED BY CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, PARAMUS, NJ
Sports Equipment donated by Christ Lutheran Church Sunday School, Paramus, NJ

Foca is also on the Drina River in South East Bosnia and, at least prior to the war, was considered a sister city to Goražde. During the war most of its Muslim population left or was driven out, and went from being almost 50% Serb, 50% Muslim (Bosniak) to nearly all Serb today. Foca was also the site of a rape camp which was set up by the Serb authorities in which hundreds of women were raped. For these reasons we feel this is a particularly important location for our ministry. This Friendship Camp is one of our largest. This will be our 7th year in Foca.

Gorazde Camp
June 28, 2010

SPONSORED BY ST. MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, CHERRY HILL, NJ & FRIENDS
Sports Equipment donated by Paramus Catholic High School

(Notes to follow)

Mostar Camp
June 29, 2010

SPONSORED BY DANISH CHILDREN'S HOME FUND
Sports Equipment donated by BJ Klophaus

Situated on the Neretva river the south of the country is the largest and the most important city in the Herzegovina region. During and since the war, it has been a city divided between the Croats in the western part of the city and the Bosniaks (Muslims) in the east. When we visit this city we stay with our dear friends at the Mostar Orphanage. This year we will hold a Friendship Camp at a school in the center of the city, hoping to engage children from both ethnic groups. We’re very excited about this Friendship Camp at a new school!

Sarajevo Camp
June 30, 2010

partially SPONSORED IN HONOR OF KATIE SHARPE (St. John Lutheran Church, Summit, NJ); $900 still needed!
Sports Equipment donated by Vicki Klophaus

Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia- Herecegovina, is the largest city in Bosnia (population of 300,000+) located near the center of the country. It is a beautiful, richly diverse city with a deep, important history in the region. The city was attacked in mid-1992 and was under siege from that time until the end of the war - making it the longest siege in Europe since WW II. The school where we hold this Friendship Camp is a rare (possibly unique) model of diversity in Bosnia, with Serb, Croat, Bosniak (Muslim) AND Roma (gypsy) children, as well as a number of children with disabilities. This is a trend that we want to support and encourage as much as possible. The children and teachers at this camp have a truly wonderful spirit. We’re so excited to be returning to this school for a 2nd year!

Vojkovici Camp
June 30, 2010

SPONSORED BY SANDI AND NEIL KESSNER

Vojkovici is a community/town immediately to the east of Sarajevo, right next to the Sarajevo airport. During the war it was in the serb-held territories and the school was heavily bombed, leaving craters in the neighborhood that still exist today. The children in the area also must take great care because of the many land mines that are still in the ground, posing a very real threat to life and limb. Though this is a part of the Serb Republik, the school Director works hard to employ a multi-ethnic staff that teaches children from all backgrounds. This is a very special school and we’re so glad to be returning here for our 8th year!

Thank you so much for considering your support of this vital, life-giving ministry!