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.