EMERGE Program – Preparing Teens for Life

Earlier this year, VANA CEO Peter Staines visited the camp facilities where our eMERGE program is held. These camps are designed for VANA teenagers aged 15 and above, where they are given space to grow in character, confidence, and identity.

During the visit, Peter walked through the dormitories and remarked that the beds looked like some of the nicest the teens may have ever slept in. The VANA team quickly responded, “For some, it is actually the very first bed they have ever slept in.” That moment captured both the physical needs the program meets and the dignity it restores to young people who have faced incredible hardship.

But the impact of EMERGE runs much deeper. Peter also heard from two VANA graduates who spoke about how this program had completely changed their lives. While they were deeply grateful for the sponsorship that supported their schooling, they said it was EMERGE that truly transformed them. “It shifted us from seeing ourselves as orphaned children to realising we have value, identity, and potential,” they shared.

This is what EMERGE is all about—helping young people see who they are, discover their worth, and step into the future with hope. And it is the generosity of supporters like you that makes this transformation possible.