Camper's Delight

In early July, the Amhara region PCVs combined our awesomeness once again to plan a summer camp for Ethiopian students. We all got to recruit two kids from each of our towns, which totaled to 30 kids. I selected my little munchkins with an essay contest and an interview for the finalists. I disguised the camp as a “Gender Equality and Leadership Summer Program” namely because the word “camp” evokes images of internally displaced peoples and refugees. A stark contrast to all the fun we were going to have. I’ve never done a camp before. Sure I have been there in spirit with the likes of “Parent Trap,” “It Takes Two,” and Disney’s “Bug Juice.” My only personal kind-of-camp experience is soccer camp. And the only thing I can remember from that time in my life is waking up early to go running, running more, and getting into a fist/girl fight for eating half of a fellow camper’s chocolate. Thus, I was able to conclude that this experience was bound to be different.

The camp was hosted in Gonder which is a historical town in northern Ethiopia. Fit with castles and most importantly, a beer factory. This camp thing is what most PCVs from all around the world do. It often goes by the name ‘Camp GLOW,’ which is another lovely acronym for ‘Girls Leading Our World.’ Since we invited both genders, we switched it up a little and called it ‘Camp G-Glow,’ but to a select few we called it ‘Camp Gigilow.’ Inappropriate. Yeah, let’s keep that one to ourselves...

Camp is tiring. We played a lot of games. We talked a lot. It was like hosting a 5-day dinner party without the booze. You know the constant need to feel like you have to entertain and make sure your guests (the campers) are having fun? Me being still a little self-centered made this a little difficult. No, actually, we did have a good time. It was classified as a win in my book of life. Each day had a theme. The first day was "Independence Day" since it was July 4th. We began with dicussion of self-esteem, goal setting, and a weak attempt to teach the song 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' ("with the girls be handy"..?!...what were we thinking?!) and ended with a bonfire and s’mores (an aptly named treat if I do say so). A great way to start a great, albeit exhausting, week. Other themes included Gender Day, Health Day, Leadership Day, and Lifeskills Day. Sprinkle in a few catchy, but annoying chants and songs (see picture below), spirit awards, Kate's whistle, and meals. We ended the week by visiting the castles and the campers locking themselves in the lion cages (why didn't we think of this earlier?!).

"Ride the Pony"...or in African context "Ride the Donkey"

This would be a "firecracker"

The majority of Ethiopian kids don’t have the opportunity to leave their community. Imagine. Not ever leaving your town. From my little suburban neck of the woods in Georgia, the pure thought makes me want to cry in a bad way. These kids got to hang out with probably the coolest people in the country (Amhara PCVs, of course), practice their English, visit another town, see the historic castles, learn interesting stuff, and so much more that I haven’t realized. It was honor to be a part of this monumental moment in their lives. It obviously made an impact. I know this for sure because all the campers were ballin’ their pretty brown eyes out on the last day of camp. That my friends, is called success.

The whole gang

Oh, and this additional comment in one of the camper's evaluation, "I love you more than me the American Peace Court; I am sorry because you are leave me tomorrow; I am not forget until the end of my life." Can't wait until next year...