'Tis the season...

...to help me raise money!!
We are looking for help in funding our second Girls L.E.A.D. (Leadership, Empowerment thru Active Decision-Making)camp, to be held in early February. My fellow PC volunteers Kate, Suzie, Sherry, and I developed this camp last year and put on our first one last June. (You can go to June's blog postings to read more about it and see some pictures). It was a huge success and a very valuable 4-day camp for the girls at my center and Kate's. This time around we are going to include girls from another volunteer's site as well. The population we are working with are girls that come from homes where they were raped or sexually abused, off the streets, or were referred to us due to human trafficking or involuntary prostitution. These are girls that need our help.

I know money is tight this time of year; if you can only donate $5, that's great! It's easy to do, just follow these steps:

Instructions for the link:
Click on the link, then go to the Asia link. You will see Philippines "Girls LEAD Camp". Our name is under Kate's, so go to C. Hickey. Click on the link and you can read the project summary and there is a link to donate to our project.

Click here for the PCPP website link...

Thanks in advance for your consideration to help with this project. Maraming, maraming Salamat Po!!
Maligayang Pasko!

Typhoon Lando at Sherry's Farm

After Thanksgiving in Sagada, Kate, Pat, Dave, and I headed to Sherry's organic farm in La Trinidad to help her build a mud oven. Our timing was a little off, as Typhoon Lando hit just as we arrived. Camping in a signal 2 typhoon....I don't necessarily recommend it. Needless to say, we were unable to construct a mud oven outside during a typhoon, so we hunkered down with our wet clothes, wood, food, and made the best of it. Sherry is an environmental volunteer and the story of the farm she works on is really special. It goes like this:
ENCA Farm has been in the Acop and Cosalan Family for three generations. It is named after Enrique and Carmen Cosalan, the second generation to operate the farm after they inherited it from their parents. They spent most of their lives tilling their farm, growing fruits, vegetables and raising animals to feed and educate their 11 children about the importance of sustainable organic farming and the history of the Ibaloi Culture.
Today the farm is experiencing rejuvenation after many years of environmental destruction due to the Santo Nino Mines and illegal logging practices. The vision for the farm is to create a space where indigenous Ibaloi Organic Farming practices are being preserved and taught throughout the community. This space will be used as a key educational venue for teaching the importance of sustainable farming, land preservation and environmental education. It will also provide a wonderful retreat for those visitors coming from the larger cities and allow them to experience the peace and serenity that comes from spending time in beautiful, natural places.
Anyone can volunteer and work at the farm through the WWOOF website: www.wwoof.org

Thanksgiving in Sagada 07

Ay, nako! 6 months na lang!

How is it already December??! Unbelievable. Even more so is the realization that I am done with peace corps in exactly six months...I have no idea what happened to the past two years. But here we are, entering the final stretch. I'm excited but a little anxious...what if I don't finish all my projects? What if it turns out that nothing I've done is sustainable? What if I get home and realize that I have regrets about things I should have done differently here? December here is pretty much a wash...everything takes a backseat to Christmas festivities (same thing happens during Holy Week). So we'll see how much actually gets done before January. I have been developing our sexuality awareness curriculum, we are continuing our play therapy sessions in the newly completed resource room, and life skills education also continues. Kate, Sherry, Suzie and I are also doing another Girls' LEAD camp in early February. My parents come on the 21st, which will be here before we know it! Lots to look forward to. Last week 55 of us headed up north to the magical town of Sagada for the annual Peace Corps Thanksgiving celebration. I am still recovering...