Eric and Debbie Stone: Passing the "Oar" to Local Leadership in Guatemala

In the fall of 2017, our efforts to coordinate transition of camp responsibilities in Rio Dulce from US to Guatemalan leadership showed great hope during our training conference.

Forty plus camp volunteers from Rio Dulce and three camp professionals from Denton, TX, met for two days of training and a “hand-off” of camp programming.

A camp specialist from Guatemala stressed the need for proactive volunteer leaders in contrast with the cultural norm of timidity and lack of initiative. Those from the States conducted “nuts and bolts” workshops pertaining to the camp stations (handicrafts, songs, games, Bible). The unifying theme regarding camp preparation was timely planning and organization.

After the team-building games, food, and fellowship, Brad (camp director from the USA) gave a specially decorated "oar" to the camp leadership in Rio Dulce to symbolically mark the transfer of camp “ownership”.

The oar was received with a mix of joy and anxiety. It reminded me of the end of Nemo when the fish reached the sea in plastic bags and one said, “Now what?” Of course, in our age of social networks, the first course of action was to start a Facebook page!

The “now what?” question began to be answered in more concrete terms when Debbie and I went to Rio Dulce to meet with the five station coordinators to give them all the materials needed to carry-out their stations (crafts, games, songs).

They have a lot of cutting and hole punching to do before the camp to host 300 kids. Even so, they are motivated and up to the task. On November 25 the station coordinators met with the volunteer leaders to show them exactly what is planned each day in each station, so in January everyone is prepared to be proactive in the camp´s functioning.

-Written by Eric Stone, TAP Partner