Camp Kennedy is a non-partisan project implemented by Feminature Uganda with funding from the Public Affairs Office of the US Mission in Uganda to increase the understanding and participation of at least 100 actively enrolled female and male student leaders aged 16 – 18, across the four administrative regions of Uganda. At least 25 students with demonstrated leadership traits and interest in public service will be selected and subsequently participate in the project. They were selected from each of the regions through a competitive and transparent process.
The camp comprises three major components: the regional training workshops, debates, and implementation of community civic activity. During Camp Kennedy, the successful applicants will be equipped with knowledge and skills to be responsible for their governance and democratic processes so as to enhance their civic responsiveness and participation in the affairs of their community and country as a whole, using the legacy and call to citizen participation by President John F. Kennedy.
The students were required to put the skills acquired and knowledge shared into a community civic engagement activity within their local communities. This provided the dimension of President John .F Kennedy’s call for citizens to take political and social action in a Ugandan perspective, so as to increase citizen ownership and participation in the governance of Uganda.
The climax of the project year 2019 was the final summit that brought together the participants from the four project districts to interact, network and learn from amongst themselves and invited officials. This was an opportunity for them to learn from each other’s experiences, share lessons learned, be opened to existing opportunities for them to continue growing their civic responsiveness in their communities and be assigned mentors depending on the needs identified by the participants.
A total of 104 students and their teachers were invited to participate in the final summit, 78 students confirmed attendance but only 73 attended. The summit was held on December 2nd, 2019 at Foyer De Charite (Kyoto) Namugongo.
Outstanding performers were awarded during the day-long event that was graced by the US Ambassador to Uganda H.E. Deborah Malac, US Embassy Spokesperson Phil Dimon, the US Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Carly Van Orman, Activist Norah Alinga Owaraga, Camp Kennedy Grants Officer Representative Eriki Peter, the media, Feminature Uganda Board, and staff.
Awards and Certificates
All the 105 students trained during the regional camps were awarded certificates. The best three rated performing schools in the community civic engagements were also awarded certificates of participation.
Trophies
Three schools with outstanding performance in the Community Civic Engagements were awarded. Our Lady of Africa Secondary School Mukono was the overall winner, Kasese Secondary School came second and Mvara Secondary School in Arua district, third. All these awards were given during the final summit.
