Our moment is here again! Whatever is happening around us, young people keep choosing resilience, peace and connections across borders. This December we’re celebrating exactly that.
From 13 to 16 December 2026 young people from DR Congo, Uganda and Rwanda will meet at Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda) for our 4th Friendship Camp: four days where cultures meet, ideas grow and friendships blossom. What began at Lake Burera (Rwanda) in 2022 has become a tradition and this year we’ll again take on a big question together: how can we keep protecting the nature we share?
What makes this camp special? First we’ve kept our promise: participation is free. But a free place still has to be earned. We’re looking for young people who are already making a difference and we’ll select participants based on the change you’re working for.
Picture young leaders from three countries in one place, learning side by side in workshops led by world-class experts on:
🌿 Nature Conservation
🕊️ Peace & Culture
🎨 Creativity & Prosperity
🌱 Personal Development & Leadership
…plus plenty of fun activities designed to build friendships that last long after the camp ends.
The moments we love most come after full days of workshops, when the evenings slow down. We gather around a campfire, sing our hearts out at live karaoke or share stories by the lake, and every face is smiling. That’s when it becomes clear: borders don’t define us. We are one.
So tell us why you. What impact are you making in your community? What drives you? We want passionate Illumineers and this is your space to show us who you are. Fill out the application form, upload proof of your work (photos, articles, certificates or project links) and add references where possible. Applications are open until 31 October 2026.
If you’re selected, you will only need to get yourself to Kabale (Uganda) by midday on Saturday, 12 December. From there our bus will take you to Edirisa. On the afternoon of Wednesday, 16 December the vehicle will bring you back to Kabale.
Our team reads every application carefully, so give us your best story. Your next friendship, idea or adventure could start right here. 🎬
Questions? Feel free to contact us.
👉 Click here to apply.
🖋️ text by:
Misigaro Rebero, the chair of Gorilla Highlands Experts in Rwanda, has deep interest in rural communities, equity and business. Currently trying to make ends meet in Bonn, Germany. [bio updated: 2026-03]
📸 photography by:
Elie Cirhuza is a freelance journalist and digital communication consultant who works on the Gorilla Highlands Experts media team. A 2025 winner of the Jinsia Kwa Amani competition in DR Congo, Elie is UNICEF’s U-Reporter who participates in community outreach about fighting ebola and similar diseases. His current post is Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda. [bio updated: 2026-06]
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