The Village That Raised Camp NexGen™ 2025: Honoring our Partners
Behind every transformative Camp NexGen™ experience lies a network of extraordinary partners who understand that investing in young minds is about creating moments of possibility, not just providing resources. Our 2025 camp in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, was a masterclass in collaborative impact, where each partnership contributed to something far greater than the sum of its parts.
Creating athletic excellence and life lessons
The heart of our sports programming beat strongest through our partnership with Nigeria's Super Eagles Captain William Troost-Ekong, who brought not just his technical expertise but his infectious passion for developing young talent. Alongside coaches from Gifted Hands Football Academy in Etinan, they transformed our football sessions into laboratories of joy, competition, and character building.
The penalty kick sessions became unexpected classrooms for life lessons. With Idara and her mother serving as captains of separate teams, campers witnessed intergenerational competition that was both fierce and loving. More importantly, they learned that even when teammates missed their shots, we still celebrated their effort with applause. This concept seemed foreign at first—encouraging someone who had "failed” but by the session's end, the team aspect had taken root. Campers discovered that winning as a unit mattered more than individual achievements, and that support in moments of disappointment builds stronger bonds than celebration alone.
Providing safe spaces for growth
Topfaith University opened its doors to us even while school remained in session, providing the perfect infrastructure for our three-day intensive. Their football pitch became our arena for athletic development, their cafeteria nourished our growing campers, and their hall transformed into a high-tech learning environment for STEAM exploration. Having all activities centralized in one safe, robust location allowed campers to move seamlessly between sports and STEAM sessions, creating the integrated experience that defines Camp NexGen™.
Global Air University elevated our technical programming by providing five expert instructors who guided campers through the fascinating world of drone technology and computer programming. Students not only learned about the drone industry, but they also built, flew, and programmed their own devices while creating simple video games in Scratch. This hands-on approach to STEAM education made complex concepts accessible and exciting for young minds to discover their potential.
Addressing essential needs with dignity
Perhaps no partnership was more personally impactful than our collaboration with Bras for Girls. For 90 female campers, receiving their first sports bra was a moment of recognition and care that extended far beyond athletics. The accompanying literature about breast health opened conversations about body changes in a safe, supportive environment where these young women felt truly seen and prioritized. In a culture where discussions about female development are often relegated to whispers, this partnership created space for open, healthy dialogue about growing up.
Tangible tokens of investment
Our donors' financial support enabled us to send every camper home with gift bags that were statements of worth. Each bag contained four 100-page notebooks, four pens, four pencils, one ruler, one bag, one camp shirt, plus fruit snacks and cookies. For young people who are often the last in their families to receive discretionary items, these supplies represent investment in their futures. The consistency of donors who have supported all five camps has become something we rely on when planning future programs as your unwavering commitment mirrors our own.
Defying cultural norms through collective care
Together, these partnerships enabled us to prioritize children who are often society's forgotten members. Coming from families with limited means, too young to contribute financially to household survival, our campers might otherwise be overlooked. Instead, our partners joined us in defying cultural norms by declaring that we care deeply about what these young minds will become, and we're willing to invest in shaping their futures.
The magic of Camp NexGen™ 2025 was in the collective decision to see potential where others might see problems, and to invest in tomorrow's leaders today.
For more information about Camp NexGen™ or to get involved, visit campnexgen.org. To learn more about LGRRG's broader mission, visit lgrrg.org.