Many teens look forward to lazy mornings, their favourite TV shows, and endless hangouts with friends. But after a few relaxing days, boredom often starts to creep in. That’s where Kigali’s holiday camps come in; combining fun, fitness, and learning. ALSO READ: Exciting summer opportunities for Rwanda’s young learners These holiday programmes offer a safe and inspiring environment for young people to, among others, nurture a spirit of national pride, develop life skills, build friendships, and explore their passions. From leadership retreats to basketball academies and debate workshops, here’s a roundup of some important youth camps that will keep your mind and body active this holiday season: National youth holiday programme A national holiday programme is set to engage the youth in meaningful, educational, and community-centered activities during the school holiday period, according to the Ministry of Youth and Arts. Starting on July 23, the programme organized at the village level provides a structured platform for positive engagement, recognizing that idle time can expose young people to negative influences and risky behaviours. ALSO READ: Protect children from harm during holidays, says minister The programme seeks to promote Rwandan cultural values, develop life skills, encourage talent discovery, and instil a strong work ethic. The programme will take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. According to the ministry, the purpose of the programme is to nurture a spirit of national pride in children and youth, encouraging them to embrace self-resilience and take an active role in the country’s development, guided by moral values and cultural integrity of the Rwandan tradition. It has various sessions including history, culture and values, work ethics, and culture of saving, as well as sexual and reproductive health, that will help to guide youth in developing important skills and knowledge for their personal growth and community well-being. Parents and guardians are encouraged to motivate their children to participate in these transformative programmes designed to nurture well-rounded, informed, and empowered youth. Cooking camp In its second edition, a kids’ cooking camp at Coco's Flavors [43 KK 21 Ave] in Niboye Sector, Kicukiro District, is teaching children aged between six and 18 how to cook and eat healthy. The brains behind the camp, Claudine Munganyinka, a consultant with a Swiss diploma in culinary arts, said it is important for kids to have cooking skills, especially when it comes to teens who are soon going to live on their own while in college. “While my son was growing up, we would cook together, and now that he is in university, he never struggles when it comes to cooking. This made me think about how there are various children who go to university, not knowing how to cook, and they struggle. I started this camp to take initiative and teach children while they are still young so that they won't struggle when they grow up,” Munganyinka said. The cooking camp which takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., began on July 2 and will continue until August 29. Debate and public speaking camp Now in its 10th edition, Dreamers Academy takes place at Kigali Christian School, in the Kibagabaga neighbourhood of Kigali. It is more than just a camp; it’s a movement dedicated to empowering young minds through debate, leadership training, and the building of lifelong friendships. According to the academy website, they aim to improve the critical thinking and communication skills of secondary students so that they become engaged and active citizens in their communities. Diakite Mohamed Muheto, a facilitator who is also part of the media team, said the camp's purpose is to help students gain the confidence to stand in front of an audience and effectively deliver a message. “This camp is important because it helps students who are interested in debating and public speaking strengthen their communication abilities in a practical and engaging setting,” Muheto said. “Beyond just improving how they speak or argue a point, the programme also introduces essential skills such as leadership, critical thinking, and confidence-building skills that are crucial not only in academics but in real-life situations where effective communication and decision-making are needed.” The camp is divided into two phases: the beginners’ session runs from July 20 to 30, while the advanced session takes place from August 3 to 13. Gymnastics, karate, football, and traditional dance camp A values-based sports and education programme that engages youth in fun, structured activities like gymnastics, karate, football, and traditional dance is underway at Ecole Notre Dame Des Anges in Remera, Kigali. Regular sessions are held Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m, and will end on September 5. Organised by Noel Nkuranyabahizi, a sport scientist and social worker with more than 10 years of experience providing sport and social work to schools, children, refugee athletes, the camp is open to children aged three to 17. Nkuranyabahizi said, “It promotes discipline, respect, teamwork, and well-being, reaching 150 children directly and impacting around 650 more through national outreach programmes.” Nkuranyabahizi explained that the camp helps improve confidence, creativity, teamwork, and healthy living, while also helping identify young talent, especially in underserved communities. It offers parents a safe and enriching space for their kids. There are so many other similar children’s camps around the city and the country. Football camps Inspire Stars academy has sessions from Monday to Saturday, during school holidays, at several venues, including Zaria Court just next to Amahoro Stadium in Remera, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Jessee Denneck Agateka, one of the participating teens, said, “This camp allows us to have the chance at being recruited by different coaches abroad, and the coaches bring professional coaches from abroad to see our potential.” The programme promotes physical fitness, teamwork, Christian values, integrity, and holistic talent growth, helping children become well-rounded individuals who can positively impact their communities. It aims to support underprivileged children by developing their talents through education and specialized academies. “Our mission is to identify, train, and develop talented young athletes through professional coaching, holistic development, and international partnerships that offer scholarships and professional career pathways,” said Rodrigue Nzeye, Inspire Stars’ coach. There are several other children’s football camps around the city and in other parts of the country. Basketball camps At Invictus basketball club, inside the compound of St Joseph Primary School, in Kicukiro District, Fabrice Shyaka, a basketball coach, on Wednesday morning told The New Times, that: “Our goal is to empower kids' talent in basketball while they are still young so they can up their passion for the sport and they make it to the National Basketball Association (NBA).” The camp which started on June 30 and will run until August 30, and has approximately more than 70 participants this year. It welcomes boys and girls aged 4 to 18. In and around the city, there are many more similar basketball camps for children. Parents only need to ask around and help their kids register and start training.
