GLOW girl GLOW!

Glow G.L.O.W. Girl, Glow! -

Last May Ofosua Mercy, a Form 2 student at Aweregya M/A Junior High School in Eastern Region attended the 2014 Eastern Region G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World) Camp with PCV Gary Slate, in Koforidua, the district capital. On October 3, Gary gave Mercy an opportunity to be a peer educator and present HIV lesson for her school based on what she had learned. She discussed the different ways HIV is transmitted and how it can be prevented and treated. She also discussed the stigma surrounding it and gave a demonstration on how to apply a condom. Two other girls that she had previously taught assisted her. A total of 32 boys and 26 girls attended her splendid presentation.

Following the program Mercy approached Gary and was full of gratitude.
Prior to attending the G.L.O.W. Camp, Mercy never thought she would have
an immense passion for HIV awareness and prevention work nor that she
 would become an HIV peer educator. Following the G.L.O.W. Camp,
she never thought that she would have the opportunity to present in front of
her entire school. Her life was forever changed that day and so were
the lives of all of her fellow students.

Got What It Takes? …She Does!

It all started with running in place for this small girl. Her name is Ruth, she is in primary school - class 6, and she resides with Peace Corps Volunteer Gary Slate in Aweregya Village, Eastern Region.  She would watch Gary in awe as he ran three times each week to villages surrounding theirs. Each day, as Gary was stretching for a jog Ruth could be seen jogging in place out of the corner of his eye: stopping when Gary glanced in her direction. One day, she garnered enough confidence and asked Gary where he was running to. He told her, “Today, I am going to Atwedie,” to which she replied, “I will go with you next time!” But, next time turned into next time turned into next time, and Gary began thinking he was living the sequel to the movie, Groundhog Day,where Bill Murray keeps reliving the same day over and over again.

Then one day Ruth, as she laced up a pair of running shoes, asked Gary confidently, “So, where are we running today?” To which, Gary replied: "Today we go to Kwahu Oda,” another neighboring village. She turned and looked at Richard and Alfred, her two brothers, who were gazing at her from a nearby doorway with doubtful grins. “Ok,” she said to them, “if I go and come with Nana Kwasi Ata (Gary’s local name), you both owe me biscuits.” They agreed, and jog she did! The girl that used to run in place kept pace with Gary the entire time. Upon their return home she was so proud and ran over to her brothers that now looked at her dumbfounded. “Biscuits, going and come,” she said gleefully.

Since that memorable morning jog, Ruth has run six times with her brother Gary, to distances extending all the way to Kwahu Fodoa Junction – junction along the Accra-Kumasi road, about 5 miles/8 km from her village. Recently, she committed to running all the way to Nkawkaw, their market town 13.1 miles (21 km) away, someday, with Gary. Stay tuned for further updates on Ruth's progress.