From 8 to 12 December 2025, Marist Mercy Care hosted its annual summer camp in Langbos, Addo, a rural area in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. This year, 460 children from the townships of Langbos and Valencia attended the camp.
For many of the children, the camp offers experiences they do not usually have access to. Daily activities included puzzles, arts and crafts, bingo, dance, and organised sport such as rugby, netball, and soccer. These activities allow children to learn through play, build confidence, and enjoy being children in a safe environment. Each child was also provided with a meal every day, which is an important part of the camp.
The camp serves a dual purpose. Alongside the children’s programme, it also functions as a leadership training week for the head students of the five Marist schools in South Africa. These Marist leaders planned activities, led groups, and spent time building relationships with the children. They were supported by local volunteers, including young people from the Addo community. Some of these volunteers once attended the summer camp programme themselves and have since returned to help, which is a powerful sign of the camp’s long-term impact.
This year, the camp was enriched by the presence of two German volunteers stationed with the Sisters of Mercy in Addo through CMI Germany.
The summer camp forms part of Marist Mercy Care’s ongoing work in Addo, which focuses on education, nutrition, and health care. The week concluded with volunteers assisting in the distribution of 1,000 Christmas parcels to children in the township of Valencia. Each parcel included essential hygiene items and nutritious porridge to support children and families during the festive season.
Personal Reflection
This camp is one of the most important weeks of my year. It is busy, tiring, and requires a great deal of planning, but it is deeply rewarding. We come away knowing that, even in small ways, we have made a difference. The joy on the children’s faces, the effort of the volunteers, and the sense of community that forms during the week remind us why this work matters.
We are grateful for the continued prayers and support of the Sisters of Mercy, and we are ever so grateful for the care and guidance of Sr Martha and Sr Breda in all that we do.
Maxine Noel
Director of Marist Mercy Care
