Annual Friendship Camps weave together youth from Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in celebration of their shared and diverse cultures. Unlike Idea Accelerator workshops, which take place within individual nations, these gatherings connect Illumineers across borders.
This video from 2022 will give you a good idea about how they look (“Christmas Camp” is the old name for the activity, as we later realised more flexibility was needed):
Aiming to inspire a generation to look beyond artificial boundaries, each camp explores five themes: creativity and home-grown solutions, entrepreneurship and self-reliance, leadership and social responsibility, nature and conservation, and personal growth and cultural development.
Camps offer ten or more interactive sessions — covering areas such as conservation, youth leadership and peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, cross-cultural teamwork, and innovation — facilitated by experts and combining small group work, outdoor activities, and reflection time. International experts are encouraged to participate in person, potentially combining the camp with travel in the Gorilla Highlands region.
Eager to plan for something similar to David’s experience? Contact us.
Next Friendship Camp: Edirisa on Lake Bunyonyi, Uganda, 12–16 December 2026