It’s that time of year again…

My favorite time of year…day camp time! All year, I eagerly look forward for June to arrive. More volunteers come into the country so the orientation audience is bigger than usual, AND we exclusively train youth in HIV/AIDS prevention, health and life skills. In all honesty, though, day camp is a lot of fun and the volunteers from last year were all very glad they got to take part in such a meaningful volunteer program. In addition to our traditional two-week program conducted in secondary schools, we are also expanding to train youth not normally reached by our programs in schools. GSC is partnering with Mkombozi Centre for Street Children to conduct a week-long camp for 40 of their street kids along with 25 Form 1 students from Arusha Meru Secondary School. We will also conduct a similar week-long camp for 25 youth who are part of Whisperers in the Jungle. Whisperers in the Jungle is a local organization that creates a home for kids who have no family. We are excited about this addition to our youth program and the opportunities it will create in the future for GSC volunteers.

Global Service Corps has also benefited greatly this year from the generosity of local supporters in order to subsidize the costs of these programs. Unlike in the United States, there is no tax-deduction for donating to worthy causes. I often wonder, “What is the motivation?” I had my doubts that any businesses would contribute, because really, “What’s in it for them?” However, I have been pleasantly surprised that we (actually Erwin, GSC’s Director of Operations) have raised over one million TSH (about $1000) not including donations of food, supplies, and T-shirts!! People here do understand that education for youth on health issues is lacking and are eager to support our program.

In addition, this year during the first week of June, Arusha is hosting the Leon H. Sullivan Summit. It is an honor to be chosen to host this event, as it will add to the economy of Arusha by bringing 4000-6000 guests to town!! What a great way to kick off high season!! Many prominent African Americans are expected to attend such as Chris Tucker, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and several famous basketball players as well as 30 heads of state. During this time GSC is also going to start advertising for the newly developed ‘development tourism’ program.

So needless to say with all that is going on, GSC and the entire town of Arusha are excited that June has arrived!!

Tanzania HIV/AIDS Prevention Camp

You Can Help GSC Create a Generation Free of HIV/AIDS in Africa!

Here’s how your support will help students in Tanzania become equipped to live health lives free from HIV/AIDS!

 

During June, Global Service Corps organizes a 3 week long Peer Education HIV/AIDS Prevention, Health and Life Skills Day Camp. This Camp works with about 240 high school students and teachers to help educate youth in Tanzania about HIV/AIDS prevention. Volunteers from abroad work with Tanzanian students to learn stratagies to mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDS. These camps are designed to be an interactive way for students to learn about HIV/AIDS, prevention, relationshops and sexuality in a fun, creative, and ultimately sustainable manner. Students then disseminate information about HIV/AIDS, lifes skills, and other health issues through peer health clubs at their schools throughout the rest of the year. Surveys make it clear that programs are needed to move youth from awareness and knowledge to actual behavior change. This is a primary goal of these camps.

 

The Camp training is coupled with a uniue cultural exchange provided by GSC volunteers. Through the Camp, GSC volunteers work collaboratively with local teachers, peer educators, and GSC staff counterparts to teach a pre-designed education curriculum over a three week period, Lessons include: HIV/AIDS in Tanzania; Biology of HIV/AIDS and the immune system; STD’s; healthy lifestyle choices; gender roles and life skills, such as decision-making and goal-setting.

 

At the conclusion of Camp, students participate in a graduation ceremony: in addition to receiving certificates of completion, they present to the local community through drama, song, dance and poems what they have learned during Camp.

 

In addition to training students to serve as peer educators, the Camp’s overall goal is to create a sustainable forum for students to continue to train fellow students. With the continued support of their teachers and GSC, these peer educators create school health clubs where they continue the task of educating fellow students in HIV/AIDS prevention and life skills. GSC is now providing follow-up training throughout the year.

 

In order for GSC to maintain this vital work with the youth of Tanzania, we need your help. Even from far away, you can help the fight of the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS and assist in saving lives. Your support and donation of any amound is needed nowl; with your help we can send a Tanzanian student to Camp, train and support a Camp counselor, buy lunches for the students, and purchase supplies.

 

Please go to our Secure Donation page to help out!

Where are the plates?

It’s that time of year again….what I think is the most exciting season at Global Service Corps-TANZANIA…HIGH SEASON!! High season is not only when all of the tourists flood to town to climb Kili, see Ngorogoro Crater, and buy copious amounts of crafts; it is also the time of year when most of GSC-TZs volunteers come. All of the June 2 arrivals have the privilege to be involved in what I would like to call “GSC’s most fun program ever”: The Youth HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention Day Camp!

We have been gearing up and planning for the day camp since February and now we’re getting down to the final details. This year we are excited to change the format of camp in several ways. We have modified the curriculum to include more health issues such as pregnancy prevention, nutrition, and access to youth friendly health services. We have also added the component of ‘mini-camps’. These will be week long camps put on for youth not reached by our traditional in-school program. This year we will be working with Mkombozi Centre for Street Kids and Whisperers in the Jungle, another organization that works with vulnerable youth. And lastly, we have added a peer education training workshop for school leaders for the last week of June. So this year’s volunteers need to come ready to work!! A lot of great and exciting activities are going to be going on all at the same time.

And now a story about the rigors of planning….