Boys Reaching Out Camp 2017

Many Peace Corps Volunteers across the world have worked alongside host country nationals towards changing the gender norms in their host country to create opportunities for the personal growth of all members of society. They have specifically been doing this through Girls Leading Our World (G.L.O.W.) Clubs and Camps. During the meeting times girls are given the opportunity to be themselves as well as learn to improve their self-esteem, self-reliance, and self-expression. Work partners are given the opportunity to harness and fine tune their leadership skills. 

Peace Corps Belize has hosted many G.L.O.W. Club meetings and Camps, however we have noticed that young men are suffering from inequalities related to the lack of some of the same life skills the G.L.O.W. participants benefit from. Therefore, this year many volunteers across the country have made efforts to start boy clubs under the name Boys Reaching Out (B.R.O.) that follow the same goals as G.L.O.W..

In order to strengthen the skills of these young Belizean men, give an opportunity to share what they've learned, and meet other young leaders from around the country the Peace Corps Belize B.R.O. Camp Committee hosted a B.R.O. Camp at Kindred Spirits from April 18^th, 2017 to April 22^nd, 2017

We had a total of 56 boys from across the country of Belize attending BRO Camp this year. During the camp they were split into 7 animal teams in which they would spend the majority of the time with. Each animal team had a Peace Corps Volunteer and a local Belizean counterpart to lead the boys through the informational sessions, activities, games, events, cleaning/cooking duties throughout the 5-day Camp.

Activities that were held during the Camp were Tye-dyeing Camp t-shirts, creating animal team flags, photo scavenger hunt, making stress balls, building a structure out of marshmallows and toothpicks, capture the flag at night using glow sticks, basketball/soccer/kickball competitions, balloon Olympics, movie and popcorn night, and an obstacle course. On the last night of Camp there was a bonfire, where the boys roasted marshmallows to create s’mores and awards/participation certificates were also given to each boy along with a gift bag of goodies. In addition to the many activities that the boys participated in, there were also guest speakers for the camp which covered topics such as, sexual and reproductive health, self-esteem, gender equality, and career/life Planning.

On behalf of the Boys Reaching Out Belize Camp 2017 Committee, I would like to thank each and every person who made this Camp possible through monetary donations or donation of supplies for the activities/events at both a local and international level. We are forever grateful to be given the opportunity to serve as Peace Corps Volunteers and to help positively influence these boys who will soon be the men of Belize.  

2017 - The year I conclude my Peace Corps Service

As some have been following along throughout my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer, there have been a lot of accomplishments and good times! When I arrived in the village that I would call home for two years back in 2015, my counterparts and I created a vision for our community. It included things such as empowering children, doing home health visits, hosting health fairs and competitions. Little did I know; it would include the tremendous task of building a health clinic from the foundation up.

My counterparts and I have been a great team in which we collaborate unbelievably well together. I have had two main counterparts of whom which are the Primary School Principal and the Community Health Worker. These women empower others and are great leaders of our community. Just to mention some of the accomplishments we have had thus far include: Community-Wide Clean Up Projects, Construction of the Village Health Clinic, Healthtober Fest, Monthly Mobile Clinics, three Pen Pal Programs, BRO Club, Education Week, Children’s Summer Camp, and Battle of the NCD’s. While we are thrilled with those accomplishments and outcomes but we cannot forget about our upcoming events and activities that will taking place in the months ahead.

Upcoming events and activities include: BRO Camp, Grand Opening of the Village Health Clinic, Battle of the NCD’s, Academic Health Challenge, Creative Writing and Coloring Contests, Children’s Summer Camp and the completion of the Village Highway Welcome Sign.  While we may only have six months to complete these tasks, we will remain confident and motivated that they will be successfully implemented.

I am extremely grateful to have had such an overall positive experience thus far and the support from my friends and family (both in Belize and the USA) are much appreciated! So cheers to finishing the last six months of my Peace Corps Service!