Camp GLOW
Not Another Teen Camp
by Sara Ray
by Jordan Calhoun
I
t was a clear day at Mavrovo National Park. The sun was high, the breeze northerly. My
phone beeped. I would be getting ready if I were you, the text read. I drew a deep breath and
turned to the thirty women in teal shirts, my eyes scanning across their expectant faces. In their
hands they clutched a banner reading “Girls Leading Our World.” Somewhere, a bird sang.
“Alright everyone,” I said, pacing along the front line, “the campers are almost here. As we speak, they are making their
approach and soon they’ll be within sight. Does everyone know how to engage them?”
A chorus of agreements rang out. I nodded. They were good staff, these ones. Their training was strong, but their innate
skills were stronger. Some were campers themselves last year, back to teach and lead a new class. Others had been here before,
returning year after year to pass their wisdom along. Some were foreigners, here to help a cause they loved. A long horn blast shook
me from my thoughts and I looked to the gate. I slipped on my sunglasses. It was time.
As eighty girls from around Macedonia poured off the buses, Camp GLOW 2010 officially began. GLOW is designed to
empower young women to make changes in their lives and communities. Kari Lowe and I inherited the program in its sixth year
and worked closely with our partner organization—Youthink, Gostivar—to increase sustainability both for the camp and for local
clubs.
Throughout the day, camper groups cycled through classes focusing on various curricular elements. Immediately apparent
was the level of intellect and potential within these campers. Whether they were talking about their favorite braid for friendship
bracelets or their views on democracy, these young women were able to express complex thoughts in English and, more than that,
engage in thoughtful discourse.
As programming coordinator, I would love to say it was the insightful curriculum that changed these girls forever. But that
wouldn’t necessarily be true. These girls benefited from the curriculum because their counselors and instructors imbued them with
the confidence to engage themselves in it. As campers left the buses, most were quiet and timid. Only two days later, they were
screaming songs about little red wagons. Six days later, they were crying as they struggled with their impending departure. In that
short time, they had all become stronger. Their prejudices had subsided. Their curiosity had been stoked. Their ambitions had been
encouraged.
Oftentimes what makes our job as Peace Corps volunteers difficult is that results are intangible. Camp GLOW is a testament
to how powerful intangible results can be. I am absolutely confident that our campers will return to your communities energized
and ready to implement what they learned in their
towns and schools. If they ask, help them! Thank
Beslinda Neziri
you so much to everyone who recruited. And to the
he thing that I have done and I’m most proud of is setting up Club
incredible staff; Jillian, Jackie, Rene, Ellen, Kristen,
GLOW, Girls Leading Our World. Club GLOW is a girls’ leadership
Ruchelle, Kari, Happie, Ashley, Joany, Keri, Kate,
club designed for young high-school women in the Tetovo area. The
Elizabeth, Kacey, and Sarah: thank you for taking
idea of making this kind of club (first of its kind in Tetovo) came after
these girls to the moon and back.
the attendance of Camp GLOW. The camp taught about many things such
as democracy in action, career planning, self-esteem and body image,
lub GLOW Tetovo was established one year
diversity appreciation, leadership, CV writing, objectification of women,
ago by eight high school-aged girls who
peace education, public speaking, human trafficking, peer pressure,
attended Camp GLOW and wanted to share their
volunteerism, and healthy lifestyles. At this camp I was taught how to be a
newly acquired knowledge. Aware that all young
leader and things looked much easier for me and for my friends so when we
women need the opportunity to strengthen their
came back from there we thought about how we could share our experience
skills in order to become effective leaders, they
with other girls in our city. We practically teach the girls everything that
meet every second week and invite other high
we learnt in camp. By this we are trying to increase their self-confidence
school girls of all ethnicities to participate. The
and encourage them be the change that they want to see in the world. By
following remarks are excerpts from essays the two
forming the club we are looking forward to breaking the status quo about
Club GLOW coordinators wrote when applying for
women in our community and show to all that everything that men can
a women’s empowerment program.
do women can do as well or better. The club started in October 2009 with
--Kacey Molloy
about seventy members and so far it has been a great success.
T
C
Marija Sibinovska
hrough the years I have often been part of different NGOs and charity organizations. In 2009 I was chosen with 79 ?\??\? ??H \???[\??? ?X? ?\?
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