A small little favor....

As many of you know, I am involved in a group here made up of Peace Corps Volunteers called the Gender and Development Council. One of the biggest things that the Gender and Development Council, known as GAD, does is host two annual summer camps. One is for girls called GLOW (Girls Leading our World) and the other is for boys called TOBE (Teaching Our Boys Excellence). As a part of this group, I must raise money to hold the camps and I really could use your help.

I know many of you do not have a lot of extra money right now, and as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I can truly empathize. But if you skip dessert at your next meal out or go without getting your double extra-shot venti mocha next time at Starbuck's, than that little bit of extra money would go a long way here in Ukraine. And it would be greatly appreciated by students here, more than you could imagine.

This is our official fundraising letter:

Peace Corps Ukraine
Gender & Development Council
http://www.globeukraine.blogspot.com
gadukraine@gmail.com 

Hello Friends and Family! During my time in Ukraine as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I have become heavily involved with a working group of volunteers called the Gender & Development Council (GAD).

Every summer, GAD, in partnership with local Ukrainian organizations, organizes two summer camps for Ukrainian youth, ages 14‐17. Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) and Camp TOBE (Teaching
Our Boys Excellence) provide a unique opportunity to gather 40 girls and 20 boys from different parts of Ukraine to participate in a camp dedicated to learning about gender issues and developing leadership as well as team building. Camp topics include: How to GLOW/Excel, How to Design a
Volunteer Project, CounterTrafficking and Human Rights, Domestic Violence, HIV/AIDS Awareness, and Healthy Lifestyles and Body Image, in combination with fun leadership and team building exercises and excursions. 

This year, GAD and our partnering organizations will offer two GLOW and one TOBE camps. One GLOW and TOBE camp will take place in the eastern town of Kremmenaya, and the other GLOW camp will be held in the western town of Kolomiya. Last year was the first time GAD held three camps at these sites, and they were all fantastic—this year we can only hope for the same. We are lucky to be working with Ukrainian partners who are eager to help make these camps a success, but we are still in need of funds to help make these camps a reality. Through the Peace Corps Partnership Program, we are asking friends, family, and local businesses back home to help us cover costs for these camps. In order to make these camps a reality, we need to raise $8,361. But your dollar can go a long way here. For example, you could: 

• Buy materials for a scavenger hunt—$12.50
• Send a Ukrainian child to camp for one day—$13
• Pay for copies of camp materials—$25
• Bus 40 kids to their campsite—$30
• Buy art and work supplies for one camp—$40
• Send a Ukrainian child to camp for one week—$72 

Please consider making a taxdeductible donation ($10, $20 or more) to help us make camp GLOW/TOBE an amazing experience for the Ukrainian youth we work with each and everyday. Every little bit counts! You can make a donation at the following website:

Or go to peacecorps.gov, and search for GLOW/TOBE Leadership
Summer Camp under "Ukraine" in "Donate to Volunteer Projects." Also, visit our blog at www.globeukaine.blogspot.com for more photos, videos and testimonials from past campers and counselors. 

Please let me know if you have any questions, and thank you for helping us empower the next generation of Ukraine! Sincerely, GENDER & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Peace Corps Ukraine
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute. projDetail&projdesc=343‐218

Peace Corps Ukraine
Gender & Development Council
http://www.globeukraine.blogspot.com
gadukraine@gmail.com  

As I said, any help that you can give would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Thank you all,
Laura