Camp GLOW, Girls Leading Our World recognizes the tremendous potential of women worldwide. Camp GLOW was first established as an initiative of Peace Corps Romania in 1995 and was implemented in Malawi in 2003. Since then, over 400 young Malawian women have participated in Camp GLOW and taken what they've learned back into their communities. Camp GLOW seeks to help young women do away with the challenges and barriers they face today, replacing them with knowledge and skills which will propel them into active citizenship, shaping Malawi's tomorrow. That's a bit from the executive summary, to give you an idea of what GLOW is.
This year the camp was held from July 31st to August 7th, a week to be remembered surely. The camp brings together girls from across Malawi, from Nsanje district in the very south all the way to Chitipa, on the border of Tanzania. The girls converged on the campsite starting July 31st, piling into minibuses, big buses, and all manners of transportation to make it to Mponela, the site of the camp. They arrived an excited bunch, queuing for dorm keys and room assignments, and all the while giggling and making nervous introductions. We started off the week riding on this wave of excitement.
GLOW GLOW
GLOW Team GLOW
Shine Shine
Shine Girls Shine
GLOW Team GLOW
Shine Girls Shine
Let's Take Charge
So this chant was the chant for Camp GLOW. As we started sessions, as I quieted the girls to give directions during dinner, and even to greet the First Lady, the chant was ubiquitous. Let’s Take Charge was the theme for this year’s Camp Glow, encouraging girls to be assertive with their decisions, their goals, their body, and in whole, take charge of their life. To us, the coordinators and counselors, this theme evoked the feeling that strong, confident girls should have when pursuing their dreams. Take Charge indicates that we are active citizens, decision makers, and role models. We take charge not only of ourselves but for one another; we, as a united front of young women, are a family. Throughout the week we shared stories, moments, and an education to give us strength and endow us with courage to be the leaders of the future.
Each day of camp gave a new focus to our theme Take Charge:
- Monday began with Take Charge of My Self, a day centered on giving these young women the tools necessary to reach their full potential, to build self-esteem, self-confidence, and the ability to communicate well.
- Take Charge of My Heritage day featured influential women in Malawi and discussed the role of women in development, knowing that women have always been, and must continue to be an integral part of the development of our nations.
-Take Charge of My Future day, gave direction on how to achieve goals, including a panel by career professionals and a session on career counseling and guidance, as well as how to pursue higher education.
-Take Charge of My Body day, explored women's specific health issues, gender-based violence and the catastrophic impact of HIV and AIDS on women.
-Take Charge of My Choices day emphasized active citizenship, civic engagement, and public speaking.
-The final day, Take Charge of Our Future, we learned to take charge of our future by making a pledge to use the knowledge and skills learned at Camp GLOW to make decisions in our lives. We learned that planning for our futures is just as important as dreaming them up.
The week was packed with various activities, sessions, lectures, guest speakers, games, arts and crafts, and on that evoke our theme as well made the camp interactive and fun. We ended the first full day of camp by having an “I Can't” funeral. We built a magnificent bonfire (thanks go out to the “Bonfire Coordinators” for making it possible, i.e. Chloe and Ben) and gave each of the girls scraps of paper. They were instructed to write something on it that someone, or maybe even themselves, said they couldn't do, for example “I can't finish secondary school” or “I can't become a nurse.” And then one by one the girls threw the pieces of paper into the fire, symbolizing the end of that negative thought. It was touching to watch the girls dance around the fire and then when it came to be their turn they threw it into the fire with so much gusto, it almost felt like a pagan ceremony.
The final activity we did was a candle lighting ceremony, the closing ceremony for the camp. Each girl was given a candle and again we formed a circle around another magnificent bonfire. One by one, each girl lit her candle and as she did so she talked about her way forward from here, how the knowledge she learned at camp would guide her through the proverbial darkness. As the circle went from just a few lit candles to each and every girl holding a candle and lambent light flickering on every face, you could feel the power bursting forth. It was beautiful. At the end, everyone raised their candle and I made a speech to all of them. This may be the end of camp, but this was not the end of their journey. Times may be hard and you may feel as though you are engulfed in darkness and struggle, but this is why we have a candle. This is the way forward, a light for when times are dark, a light to symbolize a new beginning, and together we are a strong source of light. Everyone with their arms outstretched to the moon, holding a candle, it was a moment burned into my memory. I will never forget that moment and that feeling, feeling as one.
The week was both powerful, beautiful, and exhausting. I teared up numerous times throughout the week. We did one activity where the girls identified their role models, and wrote out their name on a card and posted it to their role model inspiration wall. One of the counselors came and got me after the session to point out one card in particular, a card that had my name on it: My role model is Chelsea Mertz. It made my heart ache, and I went to go give a big hug to Chance, the girl from my village who posted that card.
I can honestly say that doing this camp, having this experience has been the most profound and rewarding thing I've done while I've been in Malawi. It was trying, I got little sleep, felt stressed trying to direct and coordinate the camp, but in the end it was more than worth it. To watch those girls board the buses on the way back home, you could see the difference in them, they carried themselves with a newly endowed purpose. And I know for certain that Camp GLOW is one thing we all share and we shall never forget.
If you'd like to explore Camp GLOW more please visit our website, newly redesigned by the wonderful and talented volunteers Briana Scroggins and Ashley Stafford, at www.campglowmalawi.com
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