When the impact of HIV and AIDS was starting to show in 1999,
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSS-NCA) decided to do something about it. “The disease here is somewhat different from the stereotypes of the general national media in terms of who was acquiring the infection,” said Kati Miller-Holland, LSS-NCA director of church and community ministries. “We were very concerned about children and families.” Miller-Holland, whose background is in youth and education
ministry, was recruited by the social service agency to build up a new program to serve the growing crisis.
Photos: Courtesy of Youth Haven
Youth Haven started out as
a once a year camp for kids who were “HIV positive and either quite ill or really struggling with the medication regime,” Miller- Holland said. “They were dealing with a lot of fear and rejection of people with HIV. We were trying to be a safe, confidential, positive, spirited place for kids to be kids.” Today Youth Haven features
not only weeklong camps but also teen retreats, family camps, mentoring, and regular field trips and events for youth and families affected by HIV and AIDS.
‘Life is about having dreams’ For teens like Samaria (last names of participants are withheld), a 19-year-old who contracted HIV from her mother at birth, Youth Haven is the only place where they can flourish and not keep their biggest secret. “We are constantly facing a
life or death situation, but there is more to life than taking pills every day,” Samaria said. “After you take your pills, what are you doing with your life? [Life is] not about suffering and feeling sorry for yourself. It’s about having dreams and following them.” Youth Haven’s staff includes
Miller-Holland, program manager Dara Yah’ya, social worker Alison Walker and nurse Verena McKenzie. They rely on 40 volunteers and donations from congregations during summer camp weeks. The impact of donated items
like decorated medication boxes for the kids and beach towels for swimming impressed Claire Smith, a nursing student who volunteered at a Youth Haven camp last summer. “There were so many different
groups of supporters—that’s a beautiful aspect of the church. It wasn’t just LSS-NCA, it was churches volunteering their time and services for people who were
Youth Haven, a camp for children, youth and families experiencing HIV and AIDS, offers a safe space for young people to connect with each other.
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