Our mission is to improve the quality of life for young people infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. A child's self-acceptance is often made more difficult by the challenges of HIV. Giving young people chances to succeed, learn and grow sends messages that they are in fact special, unique and talented.

Since our establishment in 1998, our main avenue in serving youth, who live in the Heartland, California and the other West Coast states, is through our camping programs. These camps offer many deserving children the opportunity to be encouraged and accepted, build leadership skills, have their character strengths recognized, while creating lasting memories and friendships. Camp Kindle is offered at no cost to the campers or their families (this includes the cost of transportation to an from camp). Everyone who attends Camp Kindle leaves feeling a little more whole, with many new friends and a sense that Camp Kindle is the greatest place on earth.Project Kindle’s Life Skills Retreat is for youth ages 16-20 who are impacted by HIV/AIDS. This program was created to continue to serve those campers who have “aged-out” of the Camp Kindle program. Youth who attend do not need to be former campers of Camp Kindle. The Life Skills Retreat incorporates a variety of activities and seminars over a long weekend in June. The retreat is held at a college campus in order to allow the participants to get the feeling of dorm living and cafeteria food. Seminars include: Applying for College, Resume Writing, Dealing with Stress, Effective Communication, How to apply for FAFSA Funding for College, Interview Skills and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Each day the participants choose seminars that they feel would be the most beneficial for them to attend. In the evenings, participants are given the opportunity to explore the college campus and the surrounding town.

Project Kindle’s goal for the Life Skills Retreat is to continue to serve those campers that feel connected with Camp Kindle but have grown out of the program. At the end of the retreat, the participants leave with new tools and confidence to succeed in the path they have chosen. Project Kindle’s 2nd Annual Life Skills Retreat will be held in June 2009 at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Check back for application.