Headshot Photo of Lucy Beckett
2019 Award Recipient

LucyBeckett

Project Camp Nefesh

Location Elk Grove, CA

Issue Area Immigration/Refugee Support

When Lucy set out for Seattle in the summer of 2017 she had no idea the impact it would have on her future. She knew she was going to be working at the Mitzvah Corps Pacific Northwest summer camp for refugee children, but she never dreamed what would happen next. After watching the way the campers responded to the experience, she knew the power summer camp could have. Lucy went home determined to bring this type of transformational experience to refugee populations closer to her home.

She immediately began working on starting Camp Nefesh, an organization created to bring the typical American summer camp experience to refugee children in the Sacramento area. Camp Nefesh offers children new to the country the opportunity to connect with one another as well as get acclimated to their new home, all while swimming, dancing, playing, and just being kids.

I know I can’t fix the problem of finding safe places for refugees and immigrants of the world, but I hope that Camp Nefresh has done something to help.

Lucy Beckett
“It is never too late, too early, or too often TO GIVE BACK AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE”
Helen Diller