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Seeds of Hope in Bloom: Camp KAPWA

With support from a $2,000 Seeds of Hope grant from the Alfred J. Mitchell Trust Fund, Filipino Christian Fellowship in North York, ON, hosted Camp KAPWA: Faith, Future, and Family Wholeness. The free five-day program brought together faith formation, Filipino cultural identity, STEM and arts education, and support for families. 

Camp KAPWA was designed to move beyond a traditional Vacation Bible School model by creating opportunities for children to explore new interests, all while connecting families with community resources. 

Exploring new possibilities 

Each of the first four days focused on a different area of learning: music production, game coding, biology, and engineering. 

Children were introduced to subjects that can be difficult to access outside of specialized programs. Attendance ranged from 12 to 16 children each day, and parents and guardians openly shared their appreciation for the opportunities their children were getting to engage with these technical and educational activities. 

The camp also provided back-to-school support. Every child in attendance on the last day of Camp KAPWA received a backpack and school supplies, while families received grocery bags.  

Faith and Filipino identity 

Faith was integrated throughout the program alongside opportunities to explore Filipino heritage and Indigenous Filipino values. 

Because all of the children in attendance had full or partial Filipino heritage, the congregation was able to adapt the curriculum to focus specifically on their shared cultural background. Filipino games and activities helped children connect with their heritage while building friendships. 

Parents also noticed the impact of the program. One mother shared that the camp helped develop her children’s creativity, knowledge and confidence through “songs, stories, and games.” 

Another parent said the experience helped bring her children closer to God and strengthen their faith. 

Supporting families 

Camp KAPWA also created opportunities for the congregation to connect with parents and guardians. Families received digital Family Resource Packets with information to support newcomer integration and job seeking. These resources continue to be updated with job postings and community opportunities. 

The project also helped establish an ongoing food distribution ministry at Filipino Christian Fellowship. Over the coming year, the congregation has plans to continue reaching out to families who attended the camp, to help connect them with food assistance and other community supports. 

Several VBS participants from previous sessions opted to return as volunteer leaders, strengthening relationships between the congregation and younger generations. 

Learning along the way 

“Children are incredibly eager to learn, especially if it’s something made easy to understand or is engaging. Leveraging this curiosity as a gateway can introduce them to new careers and hobbies. One should teach at their level, but always be prepared to answer the high-level, advanced questions they inevitably ask.” 

Some concepts, including colonialism and other complex social justice topics, were difficult for the youngest participants to understand. Some of the technical workshops were also too advanced for children aged five and under. 

Future programming will include more age-appropriate activities and foundational approaches for younger children. The congregation also identified cultural competency training as an important part of preparing volunteers to engage respectfully with cultural and identity-related topics. 

Looking ahead 

The congregation hopes Camp KAPWA will contribute to long-term relationships with families, whether or not they eventually become members of Filipino Christian Fellowship. The goal is for the church to continue being a safe and welcoming community hub where families can find connection and support.  

They also hope that early exposure to STEM and the arts will encourage children to explore their interests and consider a wider range of future career pathways. 

One parent described the impact of the program this way: “Our child’s faith foundation and formation starts with this program from Filipino Christian Fellowship. We will do it again next year.” 

Interested in applying for a Seeds of Hope grant or other grants that nourish cultural and spiritual foundations? We are now accepting applications. Applications are due October 15, 2026.