GLOWING!

Camp G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World) is a popular Peace Corps project done around the world. It began in Romania in 1995 with the purpose of encouraging young women to become active citizens by building their self-esteem and confidence, increasing self-awareness, and developing their skills in goal setting as well as career and life planning. Since that time the project has expanded to include 6 main topics: gender equality, self-esteem, leadership, health, aspirations, and volunteerism. The number of participants, focus of the camp, topics presented, facilitators involved, number of days, etc. differs from country to country and within countries depending on the participants needs and the focus of the camp (i.e. different topics and activities). This year in Cambodia, there will be at least 7 of these camps ranging from 1 to 4 days in different provinces. 

Blair, Sally, Trophie, Katie, Neysa, Kateri, and me

Since January I have been working with 6 fellow PCVs (Neysa, Katie, Trophie, Blair, Kateri, and Sally) in Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey provinces (northwest of Siem Reap) to put on a 4-day Camp G.L.O.W. in Siem Reap town for 62 girls and 3 female teachers or counterparts from 7 different high schools. In February, we applied for and received a small grant to fund the hiring of facilitators from 3 Khmer NGOs to present on topics like puberty, women's health, domestic violence, self-awareness, career planning, goal setting, and how to be an effective community educator. The grant also included food, lodging, and facilities while each community contributed supplies and raised funds to cover transportation costs. Needless to say it was a big undertaking and I am happy to say that our Camp G.L.O.W. successfully ran May 2nd-5th.

Sophann, Salom, Phann, me, Thea, Neat, Leat, Kimsan & Hanny

Eight 9th grade girls from my high school's girls club, chosen by application and attendance record, participated in the camp. Although age doesn't seem to really dictate what grade you are in in Cambodia, my girls were in general the youngest there, but I am proud to say that with some encouragement they definitely held their own. In sessions with Our Strength, the Women's Resource Center, and the Royal University of Phnom Penh's Career Advising Service team, the girls from my community asked and answered questions and volunteered for activities. 

The PCVs led icebreakers which included "find someone who..." human scavenger hunt, a name game (where there are two teams and a person from each team steps up to opposite sides of a bed sheet and when the sheet is dropped and they see each other the first person to shout the other's name wins and the other girl joins the other team), and a balloon game (where you tie a balloon to your ankle and while defending yours you try and pop everyone else's balloon by stomping on them). 

For those who don't know me, I was completely in my element. As a 7-time camper and 3-time camp counselor, I easily slipped back into my old role (except this time speaking Khmer!) and found my stride explaining and creating groups for a newspaper fashion show (including plastic bags, string and tape), distributing t-shirts, and leading a trip via remorks (motos attached to hayride type platforms) to Angkor Wat. Our last night, while hanging out with my girls, watching a Thai soap opera, painting nails, and making friendship bracelets, one of the girls turned to me and said that she didn't want to leave. Then all the other girls chimed in to tell me the names of all of there new friends for the different communities.

These girls are the next generation of leaders in Cambodia. They formed relationships across communities, gained knowledge, and built upon skills. They will now go out into their respective communities and share that knowledge as community educators; roles they might have shied away from less than a week ago.