I have been in Togo for 367 days. The new training group just arrived here the day before yesterday and we had a big welcoming party for them last night. I have been out of village for about 2 weeks. But, let me tell you all about Camp UNITE. C'est bananes! It was a week long camp (I never went to camp as a child) for female apprenties (what is an apprenti/apprenticeship, you ask? An apprenticeship is like a trade school. They can do apprenticeships in carpentry, sewing, mechanics, etc.) They are also doing camps for male apprenties and girl and boy students. My camp though was the first camp and even though I am now exhausted, it was well worth all the hard work. The camp consisted of sessions on Family Planning, HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality, Nutrition, Adolescence and Puberty, Self-Confidence and Techniques to Good Communication. The mood of the camp was positive and all the girls after the 2nd day really came out of their shell. We sang and played games and taught the girls some income generating activities (jewerly making using bottle caps and magazines pages...prettier than it sounds; lotion making...). I got to play the role of "Pagi" the negative villager who tries to discourage the girls all week, but somehow learns from them too. The last day of camp I was a changed girl who had gained self-confidence and a positive attitude. Voulour c'est pouvoir (to want is to be able)! I am leaving Togo on a very positive note. I will be in Greece from mid-June to mid-July and I am super pumped but also super scared because I am afraid I will not want to come back from the land of milk and honey (actually yogurt and honey). But, I have a lot of support from other volunteers and they keep me here happy, most of the time. Kisses and hugs to all of you. Barack, eh? Sweet.
