Last week Peace Corps Volunteers around West Amhara hosted the 6th annual Gondar Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World). Over the week the girls bonded, learned, grew more confident and shared their stories. Two of my favorite/inspiring stories came from one of my Gondar girls who I had brought back in a leadership position and one of the girls I lead through small discussions through out the week.
Tigist, one my campers from last year, who I brought back as a junior counselor this year, shared her past during a “Personal Tree” activity. The activity uses the life of trees as an analogy to think and share about our pasts. She revealed that she had been born in a small town near to Gondar (Tikil Dingay – another PCV’s site) and ended up in Gondar as an orphan after she was put in jail in 8th grade for attacking a man who was harassing her. She was able to put her life back together through a local NGO orphanage program and now rates as one of the top students in her class.
The other girl, really a woman, Asmira is an 18 year old girl in 8th grade. She revealed that she had been married off as an 8 year old girl by her parents. They were married for a few months before the boy’s parents decided she was too young and they should get a divorce and then the family would come collect her later, when she was “older.” Once she was divorced she started going back to school and expressed that “now I am educating myself, I have the confidence to say no! That marriage is over!”
These are just two of the stories form girls in this region. See below for some of their “Strong Girl” statements.
I am a strong girl because I can participate any activity. I can learn in the class.
I am strong girl because first strong me was born female sex. After I learn sometimes then I teach my family. Now I come to Gondar and teach some things so I said I am strong.
I am strong girl because to participate to education. I have confidence in my self.
I am strong girl because I have good behavior and I am special girl.
I am a strong girl because I can make a thing which can make me happy. Also I have a strong families which are making me to be strong. Based on that I will never give up. Finally I am helping people who have no chance to be strong like me & I am voluntary to make good things to others. No one can stop me to achieve my dream.
I’m a strong girl because I have a self reliant.
I am a strong girl because I believe in myself.
I am a strong girl because I hopefully for anything and I never give up.
I am a strong girl because I am studying anything in a book. I love you.
I am a strong girl because I achieve my goals. I know myself. Anything I do it as my self confidence, my self reliant.
I am a strong girl because I have self confidence to make a decision and I love it.
I am strong girl because I am self acceptable and I know my self.
I am strong girl because I believe myself.
I am a strong girl because I have confidence and I am not hopeless.
I am strong because I am the one can change the world.
I am strong because I never give my hand to my problem.
I am a strong girl because I do what I want.
I’m a strong girl because I say so!
I’m a strong girl because I’ve a big goal & self confidence.
I am a strong because I believe self confidence.
I am a strong girl because I have self confidence.
I am a strong because I believe in my self.
I am a strong girl because I have self confidence.
I am strong because I am a confidency girl. I being myself!
I am a strong girl. I have appreciative self and self confidence by education group participation, also I have goals.
I am a strong girl because I have a self confidence and I do everything on myself.
