Peace Corps Volunteer Danielle Carillo at her site in Cambodia.


Peace Corps volunteer Danielle Carrillo of Whittier, California, is helping girls in her community develop leadership skills while teaching them about important health and social issues through Camp GLOW. Camp GLOW was first established in 1995 by Peace Corps volunteers in Romania to encourage self-confidence among women and girls by creating a safe and supportive environment for cultural exchange, individuality, creativity, leadership development and fun. “Each province in Cambodia has a Camp GLOW, and this year I’m organizing the camp in mine,” Danielle said. “I participated in camp GLOW last year and it was a huge success, so my community members and students are very excited to do it again this year.”Last year Danielle taught GLOW participants about hygiene and the proper methods of handwashing, which she plans to do again this year in addition to leading sessions on gender roles, life skills and leadership. At the end of the camp, Danielle and her community members will lead discussions on how the girls can bring what they learned back to their villages.“I think that Camp GLOW truly empowers the girls who attend,” Danielle said. “Since camp last year, I have seen real changes in their attitudes toward themselves and in their perspective of their futures. Their confidence has been boosted and they are so much more excited for the possibilities that life has to offer.”