Making History at
Campo Amigo Internacional
It took 10 days and 46 diabetes youth leaders from 14 different countries
for an international youth diabetes movement to begin.
CAI was not only the first international diabetes camp to be organized
in the Americas, but it was the largest and most inclusive international
diabetes camp in history. By uniting young leaders from Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela,
the United States, France and Australia, CAI was the first camp devoted
to empowering youth leaders to take an active role in their local and
national diabetes communities.
Participants came to CAI to learn from each other’s experiences.
While at CAI, the participants developed strong friendships as they
shared their life experiences, diabetes knowledge, and cultures. The
links created between the participants marked the beginning of not only
an international network of diabetes youth leaders, but an international
movement to recognize the importance of youth participation in transforming
diabetes communities and improving the conditions of people living with
diabetes throughout the world.
The second session of the leadership camp, Campo Amigo Peru (CAP),
served as an opportunity to integrate established diabetes camping practices
from diabetes organizations throughout the Americas. The international
youth leaders acted as camp staff and therefore had the opportunity
to put the sustainable diabetes camping model into practice.
The result of CAI was the formation of an international network of dedicated
young diabetes leaders determined to apply their experience at CAI to
transform their local diabetes camps, associations and communities.
The true rewards of CAI will continue to be reaped in the future as
the network of diabetes communities strengthens and grows.
CAI was a positive leap in AYUDA’s goal to help and improve the
quality of life for people with diabetes and a tangible representation
that reinforces AYUDA’s motto:
Juntos Somos Mas Fuertes! - Together We Are Stronger!
About
AYUDA
