what a day it has been.

Despair seems such an appealing option. Anger, too. Resist — think bigger; invest in civil liberties, in education, in the humanities.

A culture of critical thinking will defeat white nationalist populism. Take action.

give a little GLOW, watch it grow.

While serving in the US Peace Corps in Namibia, I was privileged enough to become involved with Camp GLOW (Girls and Guys Leading Our World), a worldwide Peace Corps initiative.

In most Peace Corps countries, Camp GLOW focuses specifically on girls' empowerment. In Namibia, Camp GLOW targets both female and male learners with the understanding that females can only be empowered once males also stand up for equality. Established in Namibia in 2000, Camp GLOW Namibia aims to increase equal distribution of leadership opportunities throughout Namibia. To accomplish this, GLOW works to: empower Namibian youth; foster self-esteem, leadership, communication skills, and goal setting; and to increase awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Camp GLOW 2016 will take place 19 August to 26 August. Camp provides an opportunity for many learners to meet Namibians from different regions and from various tribes. For the first time, many participants are exposed to places outside of their home community. Camp GLOW brings the best and the brightest future leaders together, creating growth opportunities and lasting bonds. It also provides a unique environment supported by nurturing and progressively conscience adults -€“ both Namibian and American. For the past fifteen years, Camp GLOW has enlightened learners, while helping them challenge traditional gender roles, cultural norms and stereotypes.

Camp GLOW is a life-changing experience for each learner. It is an opportunity to cultivate open-minded leaders for a more progressive future. The transformative and lasting effects of Camp Glow transcend far beyond the individual participants and undoubtedly, has a ripple effect that will impact the lives of numerous Namibians.

With the help of donations from local community organizations in Namibia, and donors throughout the USA and abroad, we have nearly reached the goal for this year's camp.

Help us fund this project by donating to Camp GLOW Namibia.

You can also copy the link here: https://donate.peacecorps.gov/donate/project/camp-glow-namibia/

Want to see more? Check out these images from Camp GLOW 2015!

EDIT: Camp GLOW Namibia has reached this year's funding goal for their 2016 August camp in Windhoek! 

Thank you to everyone who helped fund this project! 

a labor of love..

It's been nine months, almost to the day, since my completion of two years of service with the US Peace Corps in Namibia. It's been an interesting transition, living back in the states... Ups and downs, and while it's good to be back -- Namibia, I miss you so.

I didn't spend a lot of time behind a camera - it altered too greatly the interaction with my kids... but here is a sampling of my last days in Mangetti with my ridiculous, brilliant, wonderful, obnoxious students... These few snaps are some of my favorites: siblings and cousins side by side, (with a few class photos thrown in). Can you see the family resemblance? The full album can be found here.

  

Apologies for any fuzzziness as I tinkered with the settings of a borrowed Olympus after my Nikon went kaput. And thanks to Ms. Ali for trusting me with your camera for a few weeks in the bush!