Camp GLOW

As the vice-chair of the GAD (Gender And Development) committee for Peace Corps Kenya, I had the honor of being involved in Camp GLOW. GLOW stands for Girls Leading Our World and Camp GLOW is a week-long girls’ empowerment camp. The camp is organized by PCVs who are members of GAD and by other interested volunteers. This year GAD organized two Camp GLOWs, one in April that was held in Mombasa on the Coast and another in August in Kisumu in Nyanza province. PCVs served as counselors, facilitators and planned all the logistics of the camp, they also nominated young women from their communities that they felt would benefit from the camp as well as nominated Kenyan counterparts who they felt could help facilitate sessions and would also benefit from such an experience. The Kisumu camp that I was a part of was one of the most rewarding experiences that I have had during my time here in Kenya as a PCV. The August camp, which was possible through the GAD committee, Peace Corps Kenya staff and PEPFAR support, was made up of 22 Peace Corps Volunteers, 84 young women and 18 Kenyan counterparts. A unique aspect of the August Camp GLOW was the participation of deaf students and counterparts. Of the 84 students half were deaf.

Women and girls in Kenya face many challenges. Challenges range from the pressure in many communities to undergo female circumcision to being seen as a potential dowry rather than a future leader of the nation. Girls are often left at home rather than sent to school and those who are lucky enough to attend school carry the extra burden of their household responsibilities that can distract them from their academic pursuits. Gender violence is another issue that is prominent in Kenya and many women believe acts of rape and abuse are their fault. Females in general in Kenya are disenfranchised and disempowered. Combating these gender inequalities is the reason GAD and Camp GLOW exist.

The goal of Camp GLOW was to empower girls through teaching participants about leadership, communication, healthy relationships, health, and future careers. The girls learned about HIV/AIDS prevention and women's health issues through interactive presentations facilitated by Peace Corps Volunteers and host country nationals. They also participated in a “career day” where women leaders attended the camp and spoke about their professions first in a panel and then had one-on-one meetings with the participants. Evening activities were geared towards cultural exchange and interactions between the hearing and deaf participants.

Throughout the week the girls were empowered to take control of their bodies, lives and futures. Participants also created action plans for how they will share what they learned at the camp with their communities and schools when they return home. The camp was a huge success and it was apparent to all in attendance that there had been a powerful and palpable change in the attitudes, self-esteem and confidence of the participants. Like I said, this was one of the most fulfilling activities that I have been involved in during my 2 years here, the week was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it.

Here are some pictures from the week:

The August Camp GLOW participants

The end of the week celebration disco!

The PCVs who made it all possible! (my students snuck into this picture too...)

The girls from Bande enjoying the bonfire and roasting marshmallows. This was their first time to make marshmallows and they were champs!

From L to R: A student who jumped in the picture (don't know her, but the rest are my students or the counterpart I brought), Lynet (a form 2), Mercy (a form 3), Caroline (a teacher at Bande), Risper (a form 1) and I.

Condom demonstrations