The first one I went to was HIV/AIDS which sounds oddly similar to my experience with camps before....one time, at chronic illness camp. But this time it wasn't kids with HIV/AIDS, there was no emotional support, no you can do this needed from the counselors. But it was kids who came because they wanted to learn how to prevent HIV, they wanted to learn how to support people with HIV, they wanted to educate people in their communities about HIV/AIDS. And that says a lot about Paraguayan future. How giving and supportive they are, how eager to learn.
I went to camp because I have type 1 diabetes. Because I wanted to feel normal, because I wanted to better myself, because I wanted to be empowered, to have people listen to me about how hard life is, to feel understood. And camp did all that for me and more. But that's just it...i did it for me. And granted, the camper to counselor switch was definitely a totally different mindset and I liked being a counselor far more than a camper but to see youth at this HIV/AIDS camp excited and motivated to learn was incredible. Can you imagine if a 12 year old went to a camp to learn about diabetes when they or nobody they knew had it themselves in the states? Thats just what these kids did.
And we had a lot of great speakers, did a lot of self and group development sessions, did a few activities from grassroots soccer (really cool program you should google) and most of all, just like any camp...had fun, built amazing relationships, and were empowered.
We stayed in cabins, ate in the dining hall, had scheduled activities, dance parties, campfires, cleaning schedules, counselors and all that camp jazz. It was only 3 days, but for Paraguayans who generally don't leave their neighborhood, nevermind travel across the country thats a huge deal!
So I learned a lot, and got my camp dose in for a while and am looking forward to planning and attending other camps in the future!
And a shout out to all my CBC loves. Keep finding all those smiles :-)
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