| Riener
takes part in ELITE camp
Peace Corps Volunteers in Central Province in Zambia hosted the first ever Camp E.L.I.T.E. (for the boys - Empowering Leaders in Training and Equality) and the 3rd Annual Camp G.L.O.W. (for the ladies - Girls Leading Our World). Both of these camps focused on youth empowerment, by allowing children from PCV communities to attend a 5-day camp filled with team building, learning, and FUN! Two youth participants and one adult mentor from each community attended. They learned about topics such as HIV/AIDS, gender equality, and life skills. GLOW is important in Zambia because it empowers young women to break the culture of silence and oppression. Programs targeting young women are essential and infinitely valuable. Camp ELITE complements GLOW by educating young men that "equality is beneficial to all!". When young, empowered women make their voices heard, males in their age group become partners in their struggle rather than adversaries. The children who participated in both the boys' and girls' camps left with the skills to establish a club in their community to spread the equality message. Thank you to all who donated to Camp E.L.I.T.E. We were able to purchase T-shirts that were given out to the participants of the camps. They will use them to advertise their new clubs so that they can promote the knowledge, ideals, and concepts of Camp E.L.I.T.E. 
Peace Corps Volunteers in Zambia at Camp Elite. J. D. Riener of Ferdinand can be seen in the middle in the back row. |
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