Despite the fact that camps run pretty much every summer, the kids seem no less excited with each passing year - It’s like being greeted by 65 eager puppies when we arrive every Monday morning at Tumdi for summer camps. We also seem to learn something new every year. This past week we made kites using skewers, plastic bags, a little scotch tape and some string. Then the kids went outside to fly their new creations in gale force winds.

This year was a landmark. For the first time in 8 years of summer camps, every single one of our volunteers who came along to help is an orphan. Saltanat, Birzhan and Anargul left Yesun College 6 years ago, 4 years ago and 1 week ago respectively. They were invaluable as they explained complex games and the intricacies of kite making in Kazakh to the kids. More than that though, these are young adults who have been through our programmes and are now giving something back