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 18th, 2017 to April 22nd, 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.
