2009 Empowerment Camp

Tariro students at the 2009 Empowerment Camp

I wanted to just briefly post two photos from this year’s empowerment camp, which happened in August.  Nyasha, our program coordinator, reports that over 50 students attended the camp.  With facilitators from an HIV prevention program run through the University of Zimbabwe, the girls discussed the importance of education, issues related to gender and sex, and their hopes and dreams.  Before returning home from camp, the girls made the commitment to work hard to achieve good results in school, to stay focused so as to achieve their hopes and dreams, and to be a gift in all they do.  We’re happy to support them on their path!

This year’s empowerment camp was supported by funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through the US Embassy in Harare, as well as additional funding from RTI International.  We’re always on the lookout for grant opportunities to help ensure that we can continue to hold the camp on a yearly basis, so if you have any ideas, please let me know.

And enjoy the photos!  I love to see the girls getting to try new things outside of their normal daily routine, and the ropes course was definitely something new.

Tracy participates in the ropes course at camp