Yesterday in El Limon we concluded a second course of Escojo Mi Vida, a Peace Corps DR initiative to teach sex ed through peer health promters – ie, youth who learn about sex ed and then teach it to others. It was an epic graduation with 21 graduates, “padrinos,” or sponsors, who accompany the graduates to receive their certificates, and the mayor in town. This time we had grant money to pay for it so the graduates themselves didn’t have to throw in. The youth themselves planned everything out. My only contribution was getting the certificates made and buying specialty items like concentrated fruit punch and fancy ribbon in the capital.
Escojo has been my favorite project in my site by far, because I’m such a big believer in sex ed and birth control and because of the overall message of Escojo, which is that jovenes should plan their futures instead of allowing life to happen to them. That attitude would make a big difference in Dominican society, where people too often accept fatalistically whatever happens to them without seeing their own power in directing their own lives. Teenage pregnancy is a big cause of young girls dropping out of school and losing the power to choose a good man to marry, the ability to control the size of their family, and their plans and dreams for the future.
I actually preferred the last group, which was smaller and more dedicated, where as this one has been more popular but also harder to direct because of that. Nevertheless, there are some really amazing youth in this group and I have really enjoyed getting to know them. And they really enjoyed the course. I felt special in the graduation because every time they mentioned me the jovenes applauded even louder than the did for the mayor 
That’s the way I feel about them too.
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| From Escojo graduation |
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| From Escojo graduation |
We took a big group picture with the special guests from the mayor’s office, the graduates and their padrinos.
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| From Escojo graduation |
The table of honor.
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| From Escojo graduation |
The graduates wore all white. They held hands after doing a skit in which they talked about HIV/AIDS and self-esteem.
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| From Escojo graduation |
This is my ahijado, or grandson, who I invited just for fun. And also because his mom has HIV and I thought it would be good for him to see it talked about in a positive way rather in the way he is used to hearing about it, which is people making fun of him.
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| From Escojo graduation |
This is Maria, one of my favorite jovenes. She does what she wants and I admire that.
Steph,
That’s fantastic, way to bring the community together and give the jovenes an accomplishment they feel proud of! Que piernas largas tienes, tambien!