I might be back in America, but good things are still happening in Zambia thanks to dedicated Peace Corps Volunteers & the people they work with. Those of you who follow me regularly know that last year I participated in something called Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World.) It’s happening again in two separate weeks – so it can be bigger & include more girls – with a different set of volunteers & new schools with new girls representing them. I think this year has the potential to be better than last, we learned some things & passed it on to those who are facilitating the camp this year & I have full confidence in the team who will be empowering this group of girls!

To refresh your memory on Camp GLOW, allow me to direct you to my archived posts:

Girls Leading Our World
Originally posted July, 3 2010 as fundraising was coming in to prepare for the Camp
http://embraceafrica.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/girls-leading-our-world/

Camp GLOW
Originally posted August 15, 2010, a brief recap of camp activities.
http://embraceafrica.wordpress.com/2010/08/15/camp-glow/

Camp GLOW Photos (link to my facebook album)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2284984&id=30302160&l=c34ae5dae5

This year, again, funds are needed in order for the facility to be booked, supplies to be purchased & all other necessary financial means are met in order to make the camp possible. Please consider donating to this cause, every dollar helps (and it goes a long way in Zambian kwacha.) I personally feel the impact of this one week camp individually impacts each and every girl for the rest of their lives.

I’m also planning on sending a package of crafting materials to Zambia in July so it arrives in Zambia in time for the camp. The quality of some supplies isn’t very good there & America has cool creative crafting things If you would like to donates some things for me to include with that package I would be happy to add them to the box, just email me & we can arrange something. For an idea of things I plan to send: glue sticks, glue bottles, construction paper, markers, scissors, stickers, embroidery thread & any fun crafting things girls like (last year foam letters & shapes were a hit, so perhaps glitter, sequins & feathers – and anything else you can come up with)

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=611-067

Project Details
Location: ZAMBIA
Volunteer Coordinator: Hansen W. of WA (many of my friends are participating)
Project Number: 611-067
Community Contribution: $2000 (33% of total budget)
Original Request: $4000

Project Profile on the Donation page

In August 2001, twenty female students and ten community counterparts will meet to partake in a five day training camp focusing on promoting gender awareness and female empowerment. The participating girls and teachers will travel from various rural communities throughout Eastern Province.

The goal of the camp is to provide the knowledge and tools necessary for participants to address gender obstacles within their communities. In Zambia, these obstacles include high rates of early marriage and pregnancy, unsafe and often forced sexual experiences, elevated school drop-out rates, discouragement of female leadership, and a general subjugation of females within the community.

This camp will provide the opportunity for girls to share experiences with one another and arm themselves with skill such as self-esteem, resisting peer pressure, identifying sexual assault, goal setting, awareness of rights, leadership and communication skills. Peace Corps Volunteers will act as facilitators and educators throughout Camp GLOW.

After participating in the camp, female students and their teacher counterparts will return to their respective communities to share their knowledge and start local GLOW clubs, encouraging the integration of gender equality and awareness into all school curriculum and various community activities, followed up by the PCV in the participating community.

The ultimate goal of Camp GLOW is to encourage the next generation of Zambian female leaders by connecting them with the role models, knowledge, skills and peer support networks necessary to make sustainable advances in gender equality in Zambia.

As always, thank you for your support of the work Peace Corps Volunteers are doing in Zambia & across the globe in prayer, emotionally & financially as you are able to.

In case my donation link doesn’t work, the URL for this specific project is available on the Peace Corps Website, which you can copy & paste the following link to your address bar: