The first morning of camp started with a session on food security followed by hands-on practice with solar drying, banana jam making and tomato canning. All three activities help girls have access to fruits and vegetables throughout the year, thereby improving food security.
We are back at the Madagascar Peace Corps Training Center for the next few weeks of training! It’s basically adult summer camp, but so far, so good. MTV Real World would be disappointed with the lack of drama. I love my fellow PC peeps <3
(via pinkguacamole)
I am already sure that Camp GLOW is one of the defining moments of my Peace Corps service. As stressful and crazy as executing a camp for 80 teenage girls can be, the chance to be there and experience it with them is an ultimate reward.
I have not been to a camp in years. I forgot how much I love to sing and dance and be youthful. Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) is about these things and so much more—it gives young women from all different backgrounds a chance to express themselves freely in a safe, encouraging environment. Campers make new, lifelong friends and meet fellow rising leaders from throughout Macedonia, who they can identify and connect with on a deeper level. They spend a week discussing important issues, learning new skills and knowledge, and brainstorming future projects to implement in their home communities.
GLOW is all about leadership development. We seek to support young women as they discover their own capacity to be strong leaders in Macedonia and beyond. The camp has a multi-faceted approach that includes community time spent in teams (8 campers, 2 counselors, 1 counselor-in-training); large group functions with the entire camp that showcase creativity and teamwork; and experiential courses that range from emotional discussions to fun electives.
Everyday was jam-packed with courses such as:
Cultures of the World, Relationships and Social Health, Team Building, Our Effects on the Environment, Tie-Dye, Self-Esteem and Body Image, Origami, Human Rights and Diversity, Interpersonal Violence, Learning to Lead, Public Speaking, Yoga, American Relay Races, CPR and First Aid, Stereotypes and Iceberg Theory, Nutrition, Portrayal of Women in the Media
Each night, at least five electives were offered including:
Korean, Mnemonics, Acting, Karaoke, American Line Dancing, Powerful Women in History, Comic Strip Art, Leave No Trace, Stargazing, Charades
Being on the leadership team kept me quite busy, but I was able to co-teach Card Games, Kickboxing, and Self-Defense! I was also on the team to organize Field Day, during which all the teams competed in various activities (much like an American field day competition).
There is so much more I could say about Camp GLOW: We had an awesome Disco Night. We lit candles and shared kind words. And made SMORES! We also had a visit from the US Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission (special thanks to the US Embassy Skopje for their generous grant in support of Camp GLOW this year!)
In summary, I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!!
If you have any questions about Camp GLOW Macedonia or are interested in supporting this project, please contact me.
Peace Corps Volunteers in Morocco held a Spring Camp for girls and boys. The camp focused on a different theme each day: Gender, Health, Environment, World of Work, and American Culture. Campers made environment collages, practiced public speaking, hiked, and shared about their long term goals. By the end of the week, the group of boys and girls that started out shy and unsure were confident and inspired, celebrating their shared experience and excited for the future!
“You are more powerful than you know; you are beautiful just as you are.”
— Melissa Etheridge
Albania girls have fun at an English camp organized by Peace Corps Volunteers that gave students an opportunity to practice speaking the language with native speakers and develop creative thinking skills. #Albania #EasternEurope #fun #girls #camp #language #laughter #creativity #peacecorps #latergram
Peace Corps Volunteer Ginger Anderson works with participants at Camp TechKobwa. Created by Peace Corps Volunteers in Rwanda, Camp TechKobwa focused on empowerment for girls through gaining skills and confidence using computers and media technology. The camp encouraged young women to become active citizens by building their self-esteem and confidence, and helped them start computer and media clubs with their information and communication technology teachers upon returning to their schools. #Africa #Rwanda #camp #genderequality #girls #women #empowerment #computers #technology #media #USAID #latergram
May Peace Be With You!
“Photo was taken in Kyrgyzstan on August 9th, 2012. We had a 2 week summer camp that taught our kids about leadership and creativity. Each day at camp was a dress up day and the day this photo was taken was Hippie Day!” - Peace Corps Education Volunteer Casey Palmer
Peace Corps Volunteers Caryn Steinbrecher and Leslie W. Stewart IV organized a youth leadership camp called “Super Vacaciones” in Nicaragua. Twenty-four kids, between the ages of 7-12, participated in the camp, which covered topics including: HIV/AIDS awareness, teenage pregnancy prevention, gender roles, self-esteem development, life skills planning, leadership, and creativity. The goal of the camp was to provide students with an intellectually stimulating environment, which incorporated physical, creative, and thought provoking activities.
A Peace Corps Education Volunteer in Belize works as camp counselor for a young girls education summer camp called Camp GLOW.
A few weeks ago Sara and I had the privilege to work with Jillian at her special needs camp. It was a week long camp with activities from arts and crafts to water games and even teaching children to brush their teeth after eating. Although it was a challenging camp, it was so rewarding to see the children’s smiling faces.
(Source: rebeccamarsile-blog)
