Day 4 (evening): kids put to the test.

After days of learning and sharing information on topics ranging from how to use a condom to the making of organic fertilizer, the campers knowledge was put to the test. Trivia was held after dinner, with each camper group competing against each other.  Counselors and staff were on had to clarify questions, but coming up with the answers was up to the campers. Trivia ended with a tie between the Great Grey Tigers and the Cheetahs, with the Great Grey Tigers winning in the third round of sudden death.

Day 4: exploring nature and the environment.

Today we celebrated the environment of Uganda, visiting an organic demonstration garden and a beach at Lake Victoria.

At the beach, some kids played football and volleyball while others searched for crocodiles. Unfortunately, they found only one lone dinosaur. Jason, a counselor of the Young Stars, wanted to make sure that his kids learned something among the fun they were having at the beach. Before they left, he gathered his boys and asked them to pick up trash. They took multiple trips up and down the hill, and by the second trip the other groups joined in. One of the Young Stars commented to another boy as he passed, "We are the leaders. You are all followers."

Before long, everyone was walking up the road to find the demonstration garden. Once there, kids toured alongside Peace Corps Volunteers Jesse and Drew. Experts in organic gardening and permaculture, they talked to the kids about drip irrigation, mulching, composting, and intercropping, as they walked through the demonstration gardens.

After lunch, the kids watched a bit of Planet Earth, before working on their personal projects. More on that later.

Day 3: Health Education Day!

HIV/AIDS- The session is opened with an interactive example of how quickly the HIV/AIDS virus can spread and morph into an energizer reinforcing that THEY, the campers, have the power to protect themselves for contracting HIV/AIDS. Information on the virus is shared and the campers learn how to protect themselves and others.

Reproductive Health- Puberty and its associated changes are discussed with the campers. They are provided information on safe sex options and the various methods of contraception. Then, campers are talked through the proper way to put on, take off, and dispose of a condom, plus they are all given the chance to practice on a model.

Water & Sanitization- Campers are taught how to construct a tippy-tap (a hand washing device made from local materials), make a pit latrine cover to protect against fly’s, and introduced to the basics of personal hygiene.

Day 2 (evening): drama opens door to debate

Tonight we invited the girls from Camp Glow to a Rafiki Theatre production about domestic violence. The boys were super excited to host the event. They busied themselves hauling additional chairs down from the balcony and, then, all of a sudden 150 girls showed up on the sidewalk outside assembly hall. The boys rushed to greet them. They then filed inside, found their seats, and the production started. Like earlier in the day the piece was powerful.

The oldest in their repertoire, Nyumbani is translated as 'home'. The drama focuses on the effects of domestic violence. The kids witnessed scenes of mental, physical, and psychological violence. It was emotional for everyone in the room and the kids expressed themselves vocally throughout. The talkback session provided time for the kids to express their individual feelings and begin to understand how other genders see these issues.

Throughout Camp BUILD the counselors will continue to talk to the boys about gender-based violence and why it is wrong.

the smallest of voices shouts down domestic violence.

Rauland, a great grey tiger, is from a village in Kasese where his family grows fairly traded organic coffee. His favorites activity is football. Yesterday, he led a presentation during the Raising Voices session, dramatically telling his group's viewpoint. Later, challenging another boy, he said, "Men are women are equal. You are CRAZY!" He is now excited to tell all his villagers that domestic violence is wrong. He has also learned the definition of Camp BUILD and how to resolve conflicts peacefully. "I am excited that the camp has taught me so much in such a short time," he says.

Day 2 (afternoon): Resolving Conflict

Conflict Resolution via Drama- Campers were given a brief introduction to the various approaches to conflict resolution and several scenarios were assigned to the camper groups.  The campers had to create two skits, one that solves the conflict without violence, in a positive way, and one that shows how NOT to solve conflict.  When the skits were over, the campers were confident that they possessed the skills to peacefully solve conflict when they return to their communities.

Conflict Resolution via Sports- The campers gathered on the pitch with Phillip, a Saint Mary's College staffer, and began a discussion on the various types of conflicts people encounter.  Footballs were brought out and the challenge of problem solving was seen in a new light with the referee as moderator.

Day 2 (morning): Building Community, a discussion on how to curb violence and empower women.

Today we began with a general assembly. Waiting for the directors to arrive, the campers began to chant their theme songs. The gorillas beat their chests, the Eagles flapped their wings, and the excitement built as each group tried to outdo the other. Soon, the directors arrived. After a short lesson in American Sign, they discussed the program for the day. Today we have visitors from Rafiki Theatre and Raising Voices in the morning, starting conversations about gender equality and violence. In the afternoon we have sessions on conflict resolution

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Domestic Violence and Gender Equality- The campers were introduced to the various types of domestic violence and then broke into their camper groups to create their own definitions of domestic violence.  Campers put to use their critical thinking skills.  An open dialogue was held and individual campers were given the opportunity to share their attitudes about domestic violence and the impact it has on the family unit and the individual.

In the main hall, Rafiki Theatre presented Sweet School, a story about how a teacher finds a group of students 'misbehaving' and canes a student as punishment. The play next switches to a scene where a girl is bullied and sexually harassed by her new classmates. Rosemary, a founding member of Rafiki, says that the play is one of the oldest in their two-year repertoire. 

In one poignant scene an actor is told to kiss the foot of a boy. She complies reluctantly, as others shove her to the ground. She kneels. Kisses. As the students further continue to harass her, another girl steps forward to defend her. When she is also harassed, she backs the boy off. Stands up for herself. Then, the actor turns and addresses the boys in the audience directly. "Why are you laughing?" The boys quiet as she talks about how such harassment affects girls in the village and the school, who are sometimes just looking for a safe place to be themselves. Finally, she turns back and the play continues.

Following the performance, one of the actors led a discussion. As ideas of other ways to interact were brought up, the boys became part of the performance to try out their ideas with the actors in play.

In discussion, the boys were asked. "Do you the boys think that what you are doing is good?" "How does his intervention change the situation?" The answers to these questions fed further discussion in small groups.

This is the first time that Rafiki has performed for a single-sex audience. Normally it is the girls challenging the boys on sexual harassment. Rosemary was surprised that today, for the first time, some of the boys filled that role and challenged the others on whether sexual harassment is okay. Yet, Rosemary says, "Sometimes I think we have a long way to go."