Chiva’s Freedom 2 Be Camp reaches 15 years milestone

Amanda Ely, CEO at Chiva, shares her reflection on 15 years of Freedom 2 Be camp.

This August, we celebrated the 15th year of Freedom 2 Be (F2B) – our annual support camp for young people growing up with HIV and I was reminded of the profound impact this event has on the wellbeing and resilience of our participants.

Over the years, Chiva camp has become a vital space for connection, education, and empowerment. It’s more than just a retreat – it’s a safe haven where young people can share their experiences, build friendships, and feel unburdened by the stigma around HIV which sadly persists despite such positive gains in other respects such as treatments.

This year, the campers attended three HIV workshops where they learned about living with HIV, self-care, and HIV medicines. They also explored how HIV features in different parts of their life, like school and home and also how they can speak up for themselves in clinic appointments.

In addition, there were creative workshops that encouraged self-expression using art. There was some incredible art made from HIV medicines as well as dream catchers. There were also outward-bound activities such as canoeing, abseiling, and high ropes challenges, helping to build resilience, teamwork, and self-confidence.

Campers also had the chance to choose from arts-based sessions like music, drama, and poetry, allowing them to explore their creativity and find new ways to express themselves.

Evenings were filled with activities aimed at promoting wellbeing, including yoga, pampering sessions, sports, and a ‘bake off’ competition.

The overarching theme of this year’s camp was ‘Know Your Rights’, and the young people participated in vibrant workshops to learn about their rights and how to advocate for themselves.

The workshops on rights concluded with a powerful protest evening, where campers expressed their new knowledge and confidence in a creative and empowering way.

Through these workshops, outdoor activities, and creative sessions, campers not only learn about the latest HIV developments but also gain a strong understanding of their rights and how to thrive confidently in life.

The community we’ve built is one of the most incredible outcomes of F2B, with many former campers returning as volunteers and mentors. One of the highlights of the camp was the talks given by these camp volunteers – who shared their own experiences of growing up with HIV. These stories were not only inspiring but also helped the younger campers to see what’s possible as they look towards their own futures.

A special thank you goes to our hard working and passionate Chiva staff team, volunteers, and Steering Group members who make this event possible each year. A special mention to our camp manager, Tom Burke, who has attended and helped to run every camp for the past 15 years.

Here’s to the future of F2B and the many more young people to come who may find strength, knowledge, and belonging through coming to camp, and may the strength of this incredible community around camp continue to grow.