Camp G.L.O.W. Ukraine is an annual leadership summer camp for Ukrainian girls aged 14 to 18 years, organized by the Peace Corps Ukraine Gender and Development Council (GAD). GAD also organizes Camp T.O.B.E. Ukraine, an annual leadership summer camp for Ukrainian boys age 14 to 18 years. Camps G.L.O.W. and T.O.B.E. facilitate discussions of gender-related issues such as domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and gender-based stigma and discrimination.
The Gender and Development Council (GAD) is a worldwide Peace Corps working group that focuses on issues of gender equality and empowerment in developing nations. GAD Ukraine’s mission is twofold:
G.L.O.W. and T.O.B.E.’s main objective is to raise awareness of gender issues in Ukraine, particularly those facing youth. The week-long programs include lessons, discussion sessions, team-building activities, and fun excursions designed to foster a sense of unity and empowerment. All activities are designed to teach respect, responsibility, volunteerism, civic participation, and leadership in a context of gender equality.
Lesson topics include:
Following participation in G.L.O.W./T.O.B.E. campers are encouraged to give a presentation or hold an event in their own communities or schools, highlighting one of the topics covered during the camp. This community involvement encourages sustainability and gives participants a chance to practice applying their new skills after camp.
Campers are selected for their leadership potential, open-mindedness, and maturity, rather than their level of English, since we prioritize the development of young leaders. While sessions will be targeted at the youth attending the camps, we also expect Ukrainian chaperons will have a chance to demonstrate and develop their skills by helping to lead some of the sessions. The girls camp has only female counselors and the boys camp has only male counselors, to provide positive role models of the same gender to youth, as well as a comfortable environment to share and grow.
At Camp G.L.O.W./T.O.B.E. 2014 a new Junior Counselor program will be implemented. Campers who attended both Camp G.L.O.W. and T.O.B.E. in the summer of 2013 will have a change to apply to become a junior counselor at the summer camps in 2014. As a Junior Counselor, Ukrainian youth will be come more involved in the planning and implementation of camp. They will work directly with American counselors, teaching lessons, leading discussions, and facilitation team-building activities. We hope to continue expanding this role in years to come, gradually placing more planning and fundraising responsibility on the Ukrainian individuals involved.
The Gender and Development Council (GAD) is a worldwide Peace Corps working group that focuses on issues of gender equality and empowerment in developing nations. GAD Ukraine’s mission is twofold:
- To facilitate PCVs and counterparts in their communities to encourage implementation of grassroots efforts that promote sustainable gender equality in Ukraine, and;
- To work directly with Ukrainian youth to equip them with the capacity to reevaluate gender roles and reduce gender-based discrimination. To further both of these goals, GAD hosts two annual summer camps focused on developing young leaders: G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World) and T.O.B.E. (Teaching Our Boys Excellence).
G.L.O.W. and T.O.B.E.’s main objective is to raise awareness of gender issues in Ukraine, particularly those facing youth. The week-long programs include lessons, discussion sessions, team-building activities, and fun excursions designed to foster a sense of unity and empowerment. All activities are designed to teach respect, responsibility, volunteerism, civic participation, and leadership in a context of gender equality.
Lesson topics include:
- Leadership Skills and Independence
- Human Trafficking Information (in the context of evaluating opportunities to work or study abroad)
- HIV/AIDS Awareness and Stigma Reduction
- Violence Awareness and Prevention
- Body Image and Self-Esteem
- Healthy Lifestyles
- Friendships and Relationships
- Topics in Professional Development
- Sexual Health
Following participation in G.L.O.W./T.O.B.E. campers are encouraged to give a presentation or hold an event in their own communities or schools, highlighting one of the topics covered during the camp. This community involvement encourages sustainability and gives participants a chance to practice applying their new skills after camp.
Campers are selected for their leadership potential, open-mindedness, and maturity, rather than their level of English, since we prioritize the development of young leaders. While sessions will be targeted at the youth attending the camps, we also expect Ukrainian chaperons will have a chance to demonstrate and develop their skills by helping to lead some of the sessions. The girls camp has only female counselors and the boys camp has only male counselors, to provide positive role models of the same gender to youth, as well as a comfortable environment to share and grow.
At Camp G.L.O.W./T.O.B.E. 2014 a new Junior Counselor program will be implemented. Campers who attended both Camp G.L.O.W. and T.O.B.E. in the summer of 2013 will have a change to apply to become a junior counselor at the summer camps in 2014. As a Junior Counselor, Ukrainian youth will be come more involved in the planning and implementation of camp. They will work directly with American counselors, teaching lessons, leading discussions, and facilitation team-building activities. We hope to continue expanding this role in years to come, gradually placing more planning and fundraising responsibility on the Ukrainian individuals involved.