Author: Merceline Chebet

Every child who walked through our gates this April carried something with them. Some carried shyness. Some carried self-doubt. Some carried the quiet weight of simply not feeling seen.

By April 24th, something had shifted in all of them.

Over eleven days across three weeks, Overflow Communities Kenya hosted its April Holiday Camp 2026, bringing together children from the Koisamo community around one simple, powerful declaration: Every Child Can Shine.

A Programme Built Around Identity

What made this camp different was its intentionality. Each day was anchored not just to a topic, but to a truth spoken directly over every child present.

I Belong. I Am Unique. My Voice Matters. I Am Confident. I Choose Discipline. I Can Solve Problems. I Respect Others. I Am Creative. I Am Strong. I Can Lead. I Shine.

These were not words on a schedule. They shaped every devotion, every game, every conversation and over time, we watched the children begin to believe them.

What a Typical Day Looked Like

Each morning opened with praise, worship, and the Word, grounding the children in faith before the day began. Small group discipleship followed, giving them space to ask questions, process what they were learning, and connect with mentors one-on-one.

Then came the games — each one chosen deliberately. Trust and inclusion on Day 1. Self-awareness and identity on Day 2. Teamwork and empathy on Day 7. Play was never just play. It was the lesson in action.

Afternoons rotated between music classes, age-group football (U9, U13, and U17), volleyball, and coloring for the youngest children. These sessions built skill, but more importantly, they built character.

And every child was fed a full meal each day. No one came and went hungry.

My Little Farm

One of the most talked-about parts of camp was the My Little Farm program.

Children were divided into four teams — Rabbits, Falcons, Sowers, and Shamba Shapers — and each team was assigned their own plot of land. With guidance from Mr. Kigen Biwott, a guest agribusiness expert, they learned how to grow scallions: what conditions the crop needs, and how farming can become a genuine source of income.

Week by week, they broke ground, prepared their soil, added manure, and planted. In the process, they learned something harder to teach in a classroom: patience, responsibility, and the quiet reward of consistent effort.

Supporting the Whole Child

Activities and learning tell only part of the story. We also created space to understand the deeper emotional realities the children carry.

On Day 10, under the theme I Can Lead: I Can Make a Difference, Moffat Kago, a psychosocial expert engaged the children through guided conversations and careful observation, creating a safe environment for expression while helping us better understand what they navigate in their daily lives.

This matters deeply to us. When children feel seen, heard, and emotionally supported, they are more likely to build healthy relationships, engage confidently in school, and develop the resilience they’ll need as they grow. This work also lays the foundation for a more tailored psychosocial support program we are developing for the Koisamo community.

On the same day, the children took part in a tree-planting exercise, a small but meaningful act of stewardship, and a reminder that their choices carry weight beyond themselves.

A Space for Girls

On April 23rd, we held a dedicated girls’ talk for those under 17, a safe and intentional space to discuss period health, relationships, boundaries, and self-worth. Each girl received a period care package, something many of them don’t have consistent access to.

More than meeting a practical need, the moment carried something deeper. It made the girls feel seen, cared for, and like they truly belonged. These conversations equip girls with knowledge and confidence as they grow into new stages of life.

A Celebration to Close

The final day brought everything together.

A live band travelled from Nairobi to lead the children in worship, many of them experiencing live instruments for the very first time. Before the performance, the children took the stage themselves and presented a folk song, their voices steady, their heads held high.

It was the best kind of ending.

What We Witnessed

Across eleven days, we saw children who had once been invisible begin to take up space.

Shy children led. Quiet voices grew louder. Discipline improved, friendships formed, and a deeper sense of belonging took root, not because we told the children who to be, but because we kept reminding them of who they already were.

The daily themes were not a program structure. They were an invitation, and the children accepted it.

Thank You

None of this happened by accident. It happened because people gave.

To our donors: your support made it possible for every child to attend at no cost, to be fed daily, to receive care packages, and to experience moments like live music and hands-on farming. Your generosity is not abstract to us. We see it in every child who left camp standing a little taller.

To our parents and guardians: thank you for trusting us with your children.

To our team and volunteers: your faithfulness over those eleven days was a gift to every child you served.

We remain committed to this community, to creating spaces where children are not merely cared for, but truly seen.

If you’d like to partner with us or support our next programme, we’d love to hear from you.

I began by asking everyone to breathe together.

A tent full of girls at our community centre in Koisamo, all eyes facing forward, taking a slow breath in and letting it out. It was a small moment, but it set the tone for everything that followed: you are here, you are safe, and you matter.

This was our Big Sister Talk, held during the April holiday camp at Overflow Communities Kenya Centre in Koisamo. A session we created especially for our girls under 17. I opened with a short prayer and then settled into one of the most meaningful afternoons I have had with them.

You Were Born Valuable

The first thing I wanted every girl in that tent to know is that her value was never up for debate.

From the moment she was born, she was already enough. According to our Christian faith, that worth is not earned through performance or appearance. It is given, and it cannot be taken away. God has placed something unique inside each of them. They are alive for a reason, and within them is a solution to a problem in this world.

I looked them in the eyes and said it plainly: you are beautiful, you are smart, you are deeply loved. You are, as the Psalms say, fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together with intention and purpose. Walk like it. Refuse to let anyone tell you otherwise.

Your Response Is Your Power

I eased into the topic of attitude and emotional well-being by starting somewhere familiar.

“Sometimes we feel angry, ignored, or disrespected. That’s normal. But how we respond is what shows our character.”

I encouraged the girls to pause before reacting, to breathe and step away if needed, and to speak with respect even when they feel wronged. They cannot always control what happens to them, but they can always choose their response. That choice, I reminded them, is a form of power. And every day they are making choices that are quietly shaping their future.

Boundaries, Focus, and the Dreams That Need You Now

I had honest conversations with them about setting boundaries with boys, learning to say no with confidence and to walk away from situations that could compromise their values or close doors that should stay open.

I also talked about crushes, because pretending that topic doesn’t exist helps no one. It is completely normal, I told them. But this is their season to grow, learn, and build a foundation. Relationships can come, but their dreams need their focus right now. They are the ones who will bring change to their homes and to this community. That calling deserves their whole attention.

Your Body, Your Voice — Speak Up

We also had a very important conversation about personal safety.

I told the girls plainly: if anyone ever tries to touch you without your permission, you have every right to protect yourself. Scream. Run. Do whatever you need to do to get away. You do not have to stay silent and you do not have to handle it alone.

I wanted them to know that help is never far. They can reach out to any trusted adult in their life, whether that is a parent, a teacher, a neighbor, or any lady on the Overflow Communities team. The important thing is that they speak up, to someone, anyone they feel safe with. They do not need to carry something like that in secret. There are people around them who will listen and who will act.

It was a serious conversation, but a necessary one. These girls deserve to know that their safety matters and that their voice matters.

Understanding Their Bodies

I created space to talk openly about menstrual health, a conversation that is often skipped but is absolutely essential.

The girls learned how to care for themselves through their cycles, maintain hygiene, and understand the emotional changes that can come with them. It was a moment of learning, dignity, and quiet empowerment.

A Safe Space, A Special Moment

This was an all-girls space by design. A tent where they could be fully open, ask any question, and feel genuinely comfortable.

At the end of the session, each girl received a period care package: sanitary towels, shower gloves, bathing soap, and a personalized card. The response was something I will not forget. You could see it in their faces, the way they lit up, the surprise, the warmth. Many shared that they had never felt so seen and cared for. What may look like a small gesture from the outside carried enormous meaning to them.

Dreams Spoken Out Loud

The most powerful moment of the afternoon came when the girls began to share their dreams.

They did not whisper them. They said them boldly: doctors, surgeons, pilots, teachers, nurses. They spoke about driving their own cars one day, boarding planes, and even flying them. The confidence in that tent was palpable, and it kept growing with every voice that joined in.

And I reminded them: it is possible. They have what it takes. Good days are ahead.

A Lasting Impact, Made Possible Together

This was more than a talk. It was a seed planted of confidence, self-worth, courage, and vision.

None of it would have been possible without the generosity of our donors and supporters. Because of you, these girls were not only equipped with essential items, but were reminded of their dignity, their worth, and their potential. You helped create the space where they could breathe, open up, dream, and grow.

Your impact is reflected in every smile, every brave voice, and every dream spoken aloud that afternoon.

Thank you for choosing to stand with us and with them. Together, we are raising a generation that knows their worth and is ready to shine.