SELF Camp Vision
SELF Camp envisions a future where girls and women in Georgia are adequately educated and motivated to make healthy decisions in their lives, for their families, and in their communities and country.
SELF camp mission
To inspire Georgian girls to become positive role models and leaders in their communities through civic engagement, healthy lifestyle, and gender equality education.
Camp overview
SELF Camp promotes values of knowledge, initiative, healthy lifestyles, leadership, and civic engagement. During camp, SELF engages campers with various fitness and educational activities to promote these values. The SELF Camp Leadership team, along with our partnering organization, carefully designs the entire camp schedule to create a comprehensive, interactive social and learning experience which include group, team, and individual challenges. The Leadership team leads by example, both in participation and behavior, emphasizing the power of a positive and approachable role model.
During camp, campers will:
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Camp Counselor and Junior Counselors will:
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History
Prior to the 2008 war between Georgia and Russia, SELF Camp was held in 2005, 2006, and 2007 in Kobuleti and Adjara with Society Biliki as the organizing NGO, supported and run by Peace Corp Volunteers. In the summer of 2010, as Peace Corps re-established its presence in western Georgia, former campers and counselors from the 2007 camp approached the newly arrived Peace Corps Volunteers asking for support in bringing SELF Camp back. Accordingly, a group of motivated local female university students, English teachers, the Center for International Education, and Peace Corps Volunteers took on the challenge and successfully executed the camp for 30 campers in Kobuleti the following year in 2011.
In 2012, a generous grant from the US Embassy Democracy Outreach/Alumni Grants Program funded the highly successful camp in Kobuleti. With 40 Campers, 4 Junior Counselors, 4 Counselors, 3 Peace Corps Volunteers, and 2 BEDEC Staff, it was the largest SELF Camp ever to be held in Georgia. On the final night of the camp, the participants were in tears – not wanting to part with the friends they had made.
In 2012, a generous grant from the US Embassy Democracy Outreach/Alumni Grants Program funded the highly successful camp in Kobuleti. With 40 Campers, 4 Junior Counselors, 4 Counselors, 3 Peace Corps Volunteers, and 2 BEDEC Staff, it was the largest SELF Camp ever to be held in Georgia. On the final night of the camp, the participants were in tears – not wanting to part with the friends they had made.