GLAD Camp 2023
Description
The purpose of the GLAD ( Girls’ Leadership and Development) camp is to address the often overlooked, but important needs of young girls and help them learn positive ways to cope with stereotypes, anxiety and culturally imposed limitations that have had a negative effect on their daily lives. Due to the success of the initial four (GLAD) Camps, the Margahovit Youth Center is fundraising to implement the camp again, taking lessons and tips from the previous camps, for a different group of participants from Margahovit.
The GLAD Camp will address several needs by teaching the participants negotiation skills, how to participate in community decision-making, work to overcome societal stereotypes, learn their civil rights, and receive basic self-defense and first-aid classes during the camp. This year’s camp will last five days for 20 rural girls in total and will be led by experts focusing on a range of aspects related to emotional and mental health and leaderships skills, including, but not limited to: creating a safe space for discussing these issues, healthy expression of emotion,  journaling,  strengths finding,  personality tests,  and leadership styles. The participants from last year’s GLAD Camp meet monthly for a follow-up club, in part to organize monthly seminars for other youth in the village to pass on what they learned during the camp. The participants from this version of GLAD will participate in these activities as well. The community of Margahovit will contribute significantly in planning, implementation, and follow-up work. Their goal is to help participants become more mentally and emotionally healthy, equip them with the tools they need to handle the difficulties life throws at them, and thus do good in school and become stronger leaders.
Region
City / Village
Start Date
End Date
The Need
Young girls living in villages are in needs of  learning positive ways to cope with stereotypes, anxiety and culturally imposed limitations that have had a negative effect on their daily lives.Â
Short Term Impact
In the short term, 20 girls, from the village of Margahovit will participate in a five-day camp during which they collectively establish a safe space to discuss mental and emotional health and stress and learn healthy ways to deal with the variety of stressors in their lives. Following the camp, these girls will join the previous participants’ monthly club at which they discuss how they have been maintaining their mental and emotional health through the skills learned at the camp and support each other in their continuing communal safe space.
Long Term Impact
With the successful implementation of this project, in the long term the participants in our community will be mentally and emotionally healthier, equipped with the tools to handle the difficulties life throws at them, and thus ready to be stronger leaders in the community and spread this knowledge and skills to their peers. Given the variety of ways in which stress can affect girls’ participation and success in school, we also know that with the skills and abilities gained through this project the participants will experience greater academic enthusiasm and success.
Sponsors Benefits
Your donation to sponsor the GLAD Camp will be recognized on The Paros Foundation website and in appropriate press related to this important project. Donors will also be listed on the GLAD Camp Facebook page announcements and in the wrap-up slideshow/video .Â
Mr. Matthew Todd
Atlanta, GAMr. Victor Zarougian & Mrs. Judith Saryan
Cambridge, MA