Here's a shameless plug for a camp I'm working at this summer. It's called Camp M.A.K.E. (multi-culturalism, action, knowledge, empowerment) and it will be in the east of Ukraine this July. I am VERY excited to be working for/with this camp. We'll be teaching Ukrainian youngsters about multi-culturalism and generally exposing them to people and ways of life that they don't come into contact with a lot. So here's where you come in - we need money!! I (along with the rest of the camp staff) have been working hard these past few weeks to send out donation letters begging people back in the US for money to fund our camp. I'll post the formal letter below so you can get more information but when you're reading it just remember how much you love me and want to donate to MY project.
Every amount of money helps. $5/$10/$1 ANYTHING YOU CAN GIVE. SERIOUSLY. You are all amazing. If you've already decided to donate, then you don't have to keep reading. If you still need convincing, then read on. Also - SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS. Spam facebook, your blogs, email lists etc with the donation links from above.
x's and o's you know i love you, Caroline
SUPER FORMAL DONOR LETTER -
Dear Potential Donor,
I'm writing to your organization for assistance funding a Peace Corps Partnership Project grant. I'm a PCV in Ukraine, and my assignment is Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This project is in collaboration with volunteers from around the country to conduct a summer camp in East Ukraine. Our goal is to develop homegrown Ukrainian leaders by teaching youth about project management, teamwork, and multiculturalism. Camp MAKE motivates, encourages, and opens the minds of youth to new ideas and new ways of doing things.
At first glance, Ukraine is not a country you would expect the Peace Corps to be in.There are signs of what looks like a country’s development — among other things, there are roads, schools, and power stations. But, there’s a catch: the roads fall apart and aren’t repaired, the schools have no heat in winter, and the power stations occasionally blow up. Beneath the veneer of development, deep cultural attitudes and a legacy of Soviet leadership chip away at the ability of the people to organize themselves and improve their country.
In a society where individuality was openly discouraged, few people are creative enough to come up with solutions to problems. In a country where all the native leadership was systematically destroyed for the better part of the last two centuries, too few Ukrainians are equipped with the skills to change and develop their country.
So, that’s where we — and hopefully, you — come in. As Americans, we’ve been raised to take charge, make things happen and change something if we’re unhappy with it. We question why something is the way it is, and we don’t stop at “no.” We fund raise, volunteer, work together, lead, follow and progress. We’ve been given a unique perspective at life that doesn’t agree with Ukrainians’ motto that they survive, not live. So, while we preach to our students about English grammar in front of classrooms every day, we’re also representing something else — we’re living, breathing examples of something different.
Camp is a breath of fresh air in a toxic smoke cloud. Camp is hearing a 14-year-old boy, raised in a culture that sells its women to the West say, “In a marriage, it’s not important who’s the bread-winner or who stays at home, just that both people contribute.” Camp is hearing a 16-year-old girl, raised in a culture that still refers to Black people by the N-word say “It doesn’t matter what you look like, as long as you are nice and care about other people.” Camp is listening to a group of Ukrainian teens who have just spent three days renovating a local community center discussing how a better action plan and communication would have improved their project. Camp is seeing meaningful changes in attitudes and actions.
Ukraine needs of lot of things to meet the challenges of the 21st century: clean water, medication, safe and reliable transportation, etc. Our project is designed to correct the underlying challenges that keep Ukrainians from solving their own problems: a wholesale lack of native leadership and innovation. Camp MAKE aims to create a generation of curious, creative, compassionate Ukrainian leaders. Camp MAKE focuses on the potential of Ukraine to do for herself sustainably. MAKE stands for multiculturalism, action, knowledge, and empowerment, but it means much more.
Camp makes change. Camp makes waves. Camp makes a difference.
We sincerely appreciate any help you can give. Donating to Camp MAKE 2012 will help make the possibility for a better future a reality for our promising Ukrainian youth. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Caroline Turner, Camp MAKE Staff
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