Summer camp in Togo: Camp UNITE

Peace Corps volunteers help to organize a handful of different summer camps here in Togo. There are camps about science, the environment, life skills, a camp for children with disabilities, and a camp for children who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. In May, I participated in Camp UNITE as a counselor of apprentice girls. The week was the same as any other week of summer camp that I've experienced - extremely busy, extremely fun, extremely tiring, and extremely rewarding. Camp UNITE focuses on life skills and example session topics include: abstinence and family planning, citizenship, food security and nutrition, HIV/AIDS, income-generating activities, leadership, the reproductive system, and self-confidence. Just like other summer camps, we slept in "cabins", participated in a talent show, ate in a meal hall, hosted a dance party to celebrate the week, and formed little families of our own.

To share Camp UNITE, below are some pictures of camp activities:

This is one of the "classrooms" at camp. You can seen the campers listening intently, and two counselors in front presenting.

The girls are lined up and listening, ready to begin participating in a game.

The last day of camp is an opportunity for the campers to apply and share the skills and lessons that they have learned. We traveled to a nearby village, and the girls presented life lessons to an audience.

Before the girls gave their group presentations - which were in the form of skits - we paraded around town , sang camp songs, and even danced. 

The girls presenting, with the audience surrounding them.

A picture of all of the camp counselors.

At the finish of the last night of camp, we all participated in a candlelight ceremony to reflect on what we had learned at camp, and how camp had impacted our perspective of how we would like to make choices that will inform our futures.