It's Your Turn

I've spent a lot of time on my blog talking about what I do to help my community and Uganda.  Now, it's your turn! 


What are you helping with?

My dedicated followers will remember my past posts about Camp GLOW.  For those who need a refresher course:

With hopes to improve gender equality in Uganda and empower girls with leadership skills, Camp G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World) is a weeklong camp for 13-16 year old girls. Although Uganda is slowly improving the educational and employment opportunities for women, men still dominate most aspects of Ugandan life; however, history has proven that an empowered woman is an integral part of development of a community and country. Additionally, the camp strives to bring together and unite Ugandan girls in a nation of 54 languages and cultures to help promote a national identity.

Camp G.L.O.W. will inspire young Ugandan women to overcome their cultural differences, bond over the common language of English and work together for gender equality. By addressing the important issues facing young Ugandan women in a safe and comfortable environment, we hope to develop well-informed, confident female leaders of Uganda. Camp G.L.O.W.’s activities strive to equip the girls with skills that will lead to a happy, healthy and successful life through health education, life skills, goal setting, sports, creative arts, and testimony from successful Ugandan women. After Camp G.L.O.W., each girl will return to her community as a leader ready to spread her new knowledge, skills and experience among her peers.

In short, Camp GLOW is pretty much a summer camp, for girls only!  They have a chance not only to learn about important like life skills, healthy living and leadership, they get to have fun.  It's an amazing opportunity for girls to, maybe for the first time, realize that they are special, important and just as good as any boy.

Peace Corps Uganda is in the midst of creating some very important traditions hosting Camp GLOW.  Last year, I was a counselor for the second annual National Camp GLOW.  This year, I'm one of the co-directors for our third annual National Camp GLOW, which will be taking place in December 2012.  At this year's camp, we expect to host 150 girls from all over the country for a week of learning, fun and friendship.


How can you help?

This is where you come in!  We need to fundraise to help pay for the camp's expenses.  A wonderful school near Kampala has agreed to host us, provide cooks, nurses and security guards, water, electricity, classrooms and dorms, all for FREE!  The remaining expenses include food, transport for campers and counselors, printing handbooks and some normal camp materials for friendship bracelets and painting. Every girl coming will contribute about $5 to show her commitment, but the rest is coming from our loving friends and family back in America. Anything you contribute will help us reach our goal of $10,000! Don't forget, it's all tax-deductible.


How do you donate?

www.peacecorps.gov/donate
Search for our grant with its number: 617-057
Double check that you've found the right one.  Below is all of our information:

Country: Uganda
Project Name: National Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World)
Volunteer: Briston, L.  (One of my fellow co-directors)
State: PA
Number: 617-057


Want to know more about Camp GLOW? 

Check out my blog post from last year that also has some photos:
http://ugandareadthis-iaintlion.blogspot.com/2011/12/glowing-with-pride.html
http://ugandareadthis-iaintlion.blogspot.com/2012/01/camp-glow-through-photos.html

Thank you so much for all of your support and interest in our girls!  Don't worry, I'll be sure to post lots of pictures of Camp GLOW 2012 so you can see the joy you helped bring.


Any further questions?
Either email me directly or just comment here, and I'll do my best to answer them.