Boys Camp Progress Report

The effort to create a camp whose goal is to educate young men on gender issues and promote gender equality is well under way.  In this post you'll find information about how the boys' camp is drawing from Camp GLOW precedents while finding its own way in securing a place to hold the camp, collaborating with Nicaraguan counterparts, getting funding, and structuring activities. 

Near the end, you'll also find a list of links of materials being used to guide the content of camp. Check it out!

PCV Project: Sexual Diversity Training for Teachers

All it takes is a slightly awkward dinamica to get people participating

Recently teachers and MINED técnicos in Muelle de los Bueyes, RAAS had the opportunity to participate in a workshop about sexual diversity. The workshop involved presentation on topics such as concepts of sexual diversity, gender rights for the LGBT community, and stigma and discrimination. Participants watched the video “Diversidad a todo color” and presented sociodramas about topics like coming out to family or rejection from friends.

The workshop was part of a VAST project that HE 61 PCV Monica is organizing with a group called Movimiento de Diversidad Sexual, based in Rama. Coordinating with Consejería Escolar and the delegación of MINED ensured permission for teachers’ participation. 

Presenting sociodrama situations

If you’re interested in learning more about this project, contact Monica.
To watch or use the “Diversidad a todo color” video, contact Health sector staff about borrowing it, or look it up on YouTube. 

Boys just wanna have fun (too)!

The GAD Committee is proud to announce that the first steps have been taken to create a camp to promote gender equality among young men.

GAD member and Health volunteer James giving a session on healthy masculinity using the "Hombres de Verdad" manual (check the resources page!) with a group of juvenile delinquents as part of their parole agreement

GAD has long recognized the importance of addressing male actors in the progression towards achieving gender equality, and with the creation of a camp that focuses on men and masculinity, the efforts that manifest Camp GLOW, another GAD staple, will achieve a sort of balance.  Indeed, it was at the suggestion of past GLOW planners that the seed for a men’s camp was planted.  At one point it was even suggested that Camp GLOW alternate participants every year to include young men.  Another suggestion was to integrate male and female campers into the same camp.  Happily, enough interest has been united in order to create a second gender camp, with similarities to Camp GLOW and a gender theme, without affecting the powerful experience that Camp GLOW has come to represent.  Camp GLOW and those who organize it have therefore fostered a younger brother.

NGOs In Nicaragua

Here’s a short list of various NGOs working across Nicaragua in all kinds of topics related to human rights, gender equality, and living a life of quality sin violencia.

Check it out—there may be some near you that you didn’t know about!

PLAN Nicaragua: https://plannicaragua.wordpress.com/
à salud sexual y reproductiva, educación inclusiva, salud materna, VIH/SIDA
à Somoto, Chinandega, Juigalpa, Puerto Cabezas

Pro-familia: http://www.profamilia.org.ni/
à planificación familiar, servicios médicos, consejería, salud sexual
à Managua, Masaya, Rivas, Chinandega, San Pedro del Norte, Boaco,
    Juigalpa, Matagalpa, Jinotega, Estelí, Somoto, Ocotál, Jalapa

Teacher Training on Gender

Have you ever found yourself wondering why only the boys ever play soccer during recess, or how girls are almost always called on when the class needs mopping but not nearly as often when a question needs answering? Have you heard teachers giving advice to students like “Girls, you’ll have to take care of yourselves in the future because your husbands will probably be unfaithful” or “Real men don’t cry”?

In honor of the upcoming Day of the Girl, here’s a workshop designed by volunteers to address just those issues of how gender norms affect the school environment. The charla has three objectives:

Counterpart relations across genders: Volunteers speak

You asked, we investigated! Some volunteers wanted to hear suggestions or advice for working with counterparts of the opposite sex. We polled current volunteers from all sectors and here’s how volunteers responded in their own words…

Males PCVs with Female CPs …

“I always hear comments or chisme about how I’m dating the profe I work with. When it’s kids from class I tell them that we just work together, but when it’s adults making jokes I laugh it off.”

“I made a point to get to know my profes’ husbands and families. And also just co-plan at times and places they feel comfortable with.”

“I work with all women in both my schools. This can be challenging at times. It can be hard to feel a part of the community there although I get along with most of them individually. I haven’t really found anything (activity or topic of conversation) to make me feel more part of the community. I work there and have confianza with my profess, but my communities are elsewhere.”

Mark your calendars! Upcoming: Day of the Girl and Men’s Day

October 11^th is internationally celebrated as Día de la Niña (known in English as Day of the Girl or Day of the Girl Child) to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. It’s only 4 weeks away! Here are some ideas for celebrating in your site…

• Host a movie night with films like Girl Rising or other local variations that show the challenges girls face and their potential to contribute to their communities. (click here for our post on gender consciousmovie nights)
• Perform plays and sing songs about the importance of girls' education at primary schools
• Do a poster contests depicting girls’ life goals or women’s role in work or society
• Hold a sports tournament for girls—volleyball, soccer and kickball are all huge hits.
• Organize mentoring activities for girls, such as Take Our Daughters to Work
• Have a parade, feria or other public event with local women’s groups
• Discuss how gender norms affect the classroom with teachers in your town (more info on this to come!)