Friday, May 21, 2010

Grant Time

Hey Friends!

First of all I would like to ask for your help. As you know I, along with other volunteers, have been busy planning a girl's empowerment for 30 girls across Eastern Provence. To fund the camp we have applied for a grant through Peace Corps called the Peace Corps Partnership Grant and now we are asking all of you to be our partners! The camp is going to be a wonderful opportunity for the girls and this grant is a great way for all of you to provide support for my work here in Zambia. We are not asking for big contributions but rather for those you are able to just donate what they can, even donations of 5 dollars add up fast. So thanks in advance for the support!!

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=611-055

Otherwise things have been going well at site. Currently my neighbors have been busy harvesting, particularly their cotton. So right now there aren't a lot of people around but soon we will enter "development season." The time of year that people have time and resources to devote to working with me. My counterpart from PEPFAR and I are planning to travel throughout my catchment to encourage more individuals to go in for HIV testing and condom use.

This last week I went to visit my friend Denise's site which was a lot of fun. Mostly we sat around and ate, visiting other PCVs is a great excuse to cook more elaborate food. We did manage to pound some coffee beans and paint watercolors as well. From there we headed to Chipata to meet another friend's parents. It was nice to be around parents again and they even bought us homemade cookies from America!

Currently my house has been invaded by ants who have moved in due to the beginning of cold season. I am waging a losing battle against them but I have faith that I will be able to discover their hill and stop in the infestation.

Well, I guess that's all for now. Please consider donating to Camp GLOW, its really going to be a moving experience for these girls and hopefully extend far beyond the week at camp as the girls become Peer Educators. So thanks!!

Love,
Allie