The Ask: Soliciting funding for a Youth Leadership Camp this
May 24-May 28th 2013
Peace Corps is an exercise in Patience and Perseverance. We
come in with all of these expectations, especially me. Several people have told
me that I need to lower my expectations. I need to become less of an optimist
and more of a realistic optimist. I feel like I am beginning to understand
that, especially with my last project as a Peace Corps volunteer.
I am trying to host a youth camp for 40 kids; I have
mentioned this in previous blogs. I never could have imagined though how much
work needs to go into this. I have to coordinate with other volunteers to make
sure that their youth are still interested. I need to coordinate with
Panamanian agencies for lectures and resources. And I need to fundraise both
within country and back home to host the camp.
I believe all of this work is worth the effort. These 40
kids will be facing a lot in the next few years. They will be facing challenges
that are in many regards cultural issues. Just in the province that I work in,
50 percent of new mothers are ages 17-21.
The poverty rate in panama is 36.8 percent, which means 4 out off every
10 Panamanians are living in poverty. And 54 percent of Panamanian children
below 6 years of age are living in poverty. These youth face teenage pregnancy
and poverty problems. This camp is Peace Corps Panama’s attempt to modify and
empower these youth to become active participants in their futures by
establishing goals and values. We want them to be well versed in family
planning, sexual health, decision-making, self-esteem, and becoming leaders in
their own communities.
I believe in these kids and I really believe that they will
learn so much at the camp if they attend.
If you can help I would really appreciate it. I have
received so much positive feedback from the US and Panama already that I really
feel that we can do this!!
The donation page can be found at www.peacecorps.gov then click on donate to
volunteer projects. The project is listed under Panama Peace Corps volunteer
Chelsea Mackin’s name and is called “Gender and Development Youth camp.”
The following link works too: https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=13-525-015
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The positive feedback
has made me cry several times, I have been so touched by everyone that has been
compelled to donate! But lets keep it
coming!!!!
Sonia Esquibel
Crazy Stubborn Peace Corps Volunteer
Panama 2011-2013
I also wanted to include photos of the potential Venue!!!
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