Cenet Staff Commitment to Cultural Exchange

Cenet’s Director of Community Engagement for Summer Programs, Mallory Burton, personally funded her participation in a camp experience coordinated by Global Camps Africa (GCA).

GCA is a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable youth in South Africa through residential camps, life-skills education, and ongoing community programs. Their flagship initiative, Camp Sizanani (“help each other”), combines traditional camp activities—sports, arts, and adventure—with structured sessions on HIV/AIDS prevention, healthy relationships, leadership, and self-esteem. Beyond the camp itself, participants engage in biweekly Youth Clubs that reinforce lessons, provide counseling, and foster supportive community networks. Over the past two decades, GCA and Camp Sizanani have empowered thousands of youth with confidence, knowledge, and life skills to make safer, healthier, and more hopeful choices for their futures.

In Mallory’s Words

My time at Camp Sizanani was both meaningful and fun, filled with the energy that makes camp so special. Visiting South Africa for the first time and joining camp life alongside local camp counselors allowed me to share American traditions while immersing myself in South African culture. From lively songs and games to nonstop laughter, each day offered new ways to connect, learn, and make friends. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for what international counselors experience when they travel to a new country and dive into a completely new adventure.

Camp Sizanani gives youth a joyful space to try new activities, build confidence, and experience the magic of camp. During the program, I exchanged ideas and leadership styles with local staff, creating a collaborative and intercultural environment full of fun. I even now sing one of the camp songs with my three-year-old son!

My most memorable moment was during an arts and crafts session. Campers decorated plain white baseball hats using a splatter-paint technique—an exercise that gave them a safe way to express grief, fear, and other emotions. Each hat became a personal reflection, with colors representing feelings or memories too difficult to put into words. The activity revealed the emotional weight the campers carry and the relief that comes from releasing it. Witnessing this moment of expression and support was profoundly moving, a rare glimpse of healing in action.

I’m grateful to work in cultural exchange at an organization like Cultural Exchange Network (Cenet) that actively encourages and supports our own cultural learning. I am especially thankful to the Vochellis (Camp Sizanani’s counselors) who welcomed me as one of their own, and to Global Camps Africa for facilitating this incredible exchange. My time at Camp Sizanani reaffirmed that sharing American traditions while learning from international collaborating representatives builds meaningful connections, creates lasting memories, and advances the mission of fostering global cooperation and goodwill.