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Inspiring Stories
| Artistic Expression
| Camper Profile
Volunteer Profile
| In Memoriam
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 Volunteer Profile
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 Without our 120 volunteers who give a week or more of their summer, Camp Sunburst could not exist. These incredible individuals come from across the country and occasionally from around the world. They represent many cultures and just as many walks of life.
As you read their stories, two commonalities you will find are their distinctly generous natures and their selfless commitment to the children.
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by Sherla Cannon
Hello. My name is Sherla Cannon; I am a 20-year survivor of the virus that causes AIDS. I was diagnosed at birth — my mother was positive — and I have been living a normal and healthy life ever since. Some people feel that AIDS is a death sentence or a punishment but I know that indeed it is not.
Throughout my life, I have faced hardships and many struggles. There were times when people doubted my survival or my purpose but I have given them reason to believe otherwise. I have grown into a beautiful young woman and I am continuing to strive for a better life and future.
Two years ago I completed high school with honors and entered Morgan State University that fall. I’ve never been arrested, pregnant, affiliated with drugs or promiscuous. Being HIV positive hasn’t brought me down at all. In fact it’s brought me up in so many ways.
In my 20 years of living a healthy and fun life, I was been blessed with the opportunity to travel to Cape Town, South Africa for a 12-day visit. In early January 2006, as I was preparing to travel to South Africa, I was unable to get the shots and medicine that I had been frequently warned to get, but I was still eager to go. Besides, how many other 19-year-old college sophomores would be going on a free trip to South Africa over their winter break???
I was surely one lucky girl. On Saturday, January 7, 2006, I boarded the 13-hour, two-stop flight that would take me to Cape Town, South Africa. I was nervous, eager and anxious. I was so happy to get away from home and school but at the same time nervous about leaving America. I had been outside of America before... but never on my own.
When I had first arrived in South Africa, I immediately noticed how beautiful the scenery was. Africa was NOTHING like what they show you in the movies. Africa is often associated with images shown in movies like “Mean Girls,” leaving Americans like myself to believe that animals just run wild and free throughout the continent!
Africa was so beautiful to me. There were so many nice beaches, towns and mountains. I never even knew there were beaches in Africa. The main purpose of my trip to Africa was to participate in a summer camp (their summer is our winter) for children infected/affected with HIV/AIDS.
I have been working with children for the past 5 years and I have grown to love children. I found out about the organization Fertile Ground through a longtime friend who attends Camp Sunburst with me. Fertile Ground is an organization in South Africa that helps people with HIV and AIDS.
Their camp was help from January 9-13, 2006. The camp was a very wonderful experience. The children were so much fun to be around and it was just a great experience! The camp was very nurturing and fun for the children...some came from poorer communities which made them so grateful and appreciative of everything.
I was able to enjoy my 20th birthday out on the beach relaxing with the children and other counselors. How wonderful is that????? I celebrated 20 years of living with a virus that has shattered so many lives and people. I feel so blessed for that. During the week of the camp I was able to meet a lot of new people and share my experiences with them.
I even got to meet other young people my age who were working with HIV positive children for the first time. They admitted to being a little nervous. I was able to tell them there was no need to be afraid. The camp was 5 days long and 5 days short all in the same breath. The children had so much fun during the camp and so did I. I was able learn from them as well.
After the camp ended, I continued my vacation in Africa and was able to explore Cape Town. I went to restaurants, beaches, malls and shops and enjoyed a wonderful vacation. My trip to Cape Town was the best trip I have ever taken.
I would say that I was able to give myself to the children and they in return were able to show me how beautiful their country can be.
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Back to Top
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The following items are needed to continue our year round services and programs at Sunburst. Giving a gift certificate from a store listed below helps us to provide emergency and immediate needs for families and helps the agency continue to buy necessary supplies.
Laptops
MP3 Players
Video Camera
Digital Camera
LCD Projector
Keyboards
Guitars
Percussion Instruments
Megaphones
Polaroid Film
Disposable Cameras
Boomboxes
Walkie Talkies
Scissors
Glass Beads
White T-Shirts for Tie-Dye
Balloons
Fabric Paints
Face Paints
Fimo
Over the Counter Meds
Mosquito Repellent
Sunscreen SPF 30+
Kleenex
Small Dixie Cups
Tweezers
Thermometers
Alcohol/Betadine Wipes
Hydrogen Peroxide
Anti-Bacterial Handsoap
Bottled Water
Individual Snacks
Fanny Packs
Earplugs
Disposable Diapers
Formula
Baby Furniture
Rolls of Stamps
Frequent Flyer Miles
Prepaid Phone Cards
Babies R Us
Blockbuster
Gap
Kinko’s
Office Max
Office Depot
Old Navy
Safeway
Target
Toys R Us
Wherehouse
Help with Wish List...
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