Please Help!

I’m writing today to ask you for your help with a camp that a group of Peace Corps volunteers are going to put on this fall. The camp, called “Celebrando el Este” will be a three day camp involving forty kids from all over the Eastern region of the country. At this camp the kids will learn about different countries and cultures and learn to identify and combat racism, gender discrimination and stereotyping through interactive workshops and activities. When they are finished with the conference they will be asked to return to their communities to coordinate activities and presentations related to the themes that are addressed over the course of the conference.

While the East has areas that are economically developed, the majority of the youth attending the conference hail from humble families where they have many hardships and few opportunities. Many times gender discrimination and racism are factors that contribute to these hardships. Here in the DR there is a complicated relationship between Dominicans, Haitians and their descendants. This includes blatant discrimination against Haitians and anyone that might have Haitian blood. This camp is an important opportunity for youth (of both Dominican and Haitian descent) to dialogue about current issues that they encounter in their communities. By doing so the camp's goal is to work towards the elimination of discrimination and promote understanding amongst youth and their communities. We hope that these youth will learn about other cultures and examine their own identities, and in doing so, begin to think beyond their neighborhoods and current lives and aspire towards a better future for themselves and their communities.

The campers themselves are required to raise funds to participate, however in this case we also rely heavily on individual donors such as yourselves to help cover the costs of food, lodging and transportation. If you’re able, please consider sponsoring a camper by donating money at the Peace Corps-sponsored link below. We are asking you for a small contribution to our cause in order to help fund this conference. Any amount would help us put on this very important camp. In order to donate, please go to the link https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=517-315 .

Sometimes the website may be down, so if it doesn’t work the first time, please try, try again! We would love to send donors Thank-You cards in appreciation of your generosity. If you would like to receive one, please be sure to fill out all the contact information on the donation web form.


Thanks in advance for your help!

Brianna, future Celebrando el Este campers and all the Eastern DR Peace Corps Volunteers