From New York to Palestine

Words from Sama ‘19, a CRS camper from Palestine, describing how Camp impacted her life.

My CRS Experience

American cultural anthropologist, Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

These inspirational words remind me of a life revelation I went through in the summer of 2019 at Camp Rising Sun. We were a group of 60 girls coming from multiple countries and spoke many languages. The first week was quite hectic in which we all were feeling homesick, yet through that shared feeling, we made a deep and powerful connection in which we reshaped our camp experience into that of a joyous one. Through the camp workshops and activities which were quite tedious yet fun, we formed a close knit community through the values of camaraderieship, cooperation, and empathy. Language and culture no longer posed as barriers for us. Instead, it was strength which made us diverse in our thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives. Before we even knew it, we created a large family that dispersed to its many homes, creating a newly formed network of thoughtful, committed, citizens that became agents of change no matter where they may be. 

For me, it was even more meaningful in ways I could not even communicate. As a young Palestinian women, I face many physical and internal obstacles that seem quite difficult for me to overcome. Fear and hesitation have always been my most dependable senses which do not bring out one’s full potential. Through partaking in activities like camping in tents for a month and spending a day in the wilderness, I changed in so many ways that inspired me to make a change not only to myself, but to my community back home. I also realized that the memories I made between my dearest friends at the camp should be cherished and shared in a way to encourage other girls to attend the camp. That is why I made a group in my country, Palestine in order to share my camp experience with other Palestinian campers who once attended the camp in order to create a sense of community in which Camp Rising Sun leaves a legacy of its own here in the Middle East. This community of former campers and I encourage others in our community to attend Camp Rising Sun. 

For me, the Camp Rising Sun experience is like travelling through a tunnel. At first it may seem dark, but if you keep on walking, you will eventually reach a place of beauty and light which allows you to cherish the journey. My advice to previous and upcoming campers is to cherish your memories of Camp Rising Sun, for there is no other experience like it.

We hope you enjoyed reading how one alumnae’s Camp experience impacted her life! If you are interested in writing for our blog, please email us at contact@lajf.org.