Today, the
new training group arrives, Peace Corps Benin 2014-2016, exactly two years
after I did…
And exactly
two months from today, I will move out of my village...
Yikes.
Oddly
enough, I haven’t been doing much day-counting lately, which seems a good way
to spend these last precious moments. I fluctuate between impatient and
sentimental, and I thrive on the busy days that make this whirlwind of an
experience feel like it has been worth the while.
June seemed
to fly by. To start, I traveled with two of my English students, Hubert and
Fleurette, to a national spelling bee. Little Flower had a rough time with the
ten hour bus ride – her first cross country travel experience was an
exhausting, sickening one, and it was a relief that she was at least able to
take home third place!
Last week,
Peace Corps Benin’s gender equality fundraiser, Tour du Benin, made it to my
neck of the woods, and I ran a 15 mile leg to help raise money and awareness.
Thanks to all those who contributed to support the runners – the committee
raised over $3,000 toward future gender equality projects and activities!
The rest of
the month has been consumed with my final large project, the co-coordinating of
Camp GLOW, Peace Corps’ annual camp for girls, replicated nation and
world-wide! Camp GLOW Porto Novo will begin next Sunday, welcoming 50 young
girls from all over the south of Benin.
Camp GLOW
strives to empower young women, so that they may become confident, motivated
leaders in their communities. We recognize that the achievement of gender
equality can serve as a solution to Benin's needs as a developing country, and
through camp GLOW (as is the Peace Corps MO) we are supporting personal growth
among the individuals who will make these solutions realities. This means
encouraging girls to seize opportunities for leadership and independence,
education of course being an important means for doing so. Throughout our week
together, my fellow volunteers and I, as well as Beninese counselors, will be
exposing participants to civic engagement, providing health education,
promoting confidence-building activities, and offering mentorship from
role-models such as professional women guest-speakers, Beninese counselors, and
Peace Corps Volunteers. Additionally, we encourage girls to become well-rounded
individuals through many other activities, including art and sports.
For the sake
of more exciting and tangible ideas about what we’ll be up to at Camp GLOW,
I’ll do my best to post pictures and stories in the next couple of weeks!
At that
point, I’m sure my focus will have shifted as well: from final projects in
village, to my Close of Service trip! John and I will be backpacking for three
weeks in Italy, Greece, and France – a bona fide “food tour” for a couple of
hungry RPCVs! More on that to come…
Until then,
thanks for keeping the good vibes coming as my time here is quickly going!
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