RPCVs are looking for support from the Peace Corps community to help with a new fundraising campaign for a camp for Togolese youth.
Founded in 2001 by the Peace Corps and staffed by Peace Corps Volunteers, Camp UNITE (Unification de la Nation: Initiative, Travail, et Education) is a series of weeklong summer camps for motivated Togolese students and apprentices from villages and cities throughout the country.
Summer camps focus on such themes as self-confidence, HIV/AIDS awareness, teamwork, sex/health education, goal-setting, life skills, leadership, empowerment and behavioral change.
In addition to educating and empowering youth, the camp helps to heal ethnic divisions of Togo by having all regions of the country represented. Camp UNITE also allows participants to make friends and contacts throughout Togo for future collaboration.
Former Peace Corps Volunteers who worked at Camp UNITE are partnering with the UNITE foundation to launch the "8 by 8" fundraising campaign. The campaign is asking Americans for an $8 donation to help the camp raise $8,000 in eight weeks. The money will help to support the camp's eighth year.
Camp UNITE 2009 will mark the 8th year of camp for female students, 7th year for male students, 6th year for female apprentices (learning trades such as hairdressing and tailoring), and the 3rd year of camp for male apprentices (learning trades such as masonry and mechanics). Past participants have not only shown remarkable personal accomplishments (such as continuing their education through college and opening their own businesses), but have led their communities in development through trainings, peer educator groups, and educational sessions.
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