Over 100 children benefit from summer camp
SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Over 100 children from across this parish have benefited from a range of educational activities at the annual one-week day camp.
The camp, which is in its fifth year, was held at the Russia Basic School. Attended by youth ranging from six to 16 years old, it was staged by the community relations arm of the Savanna-la-Mar police station.
Police community relations officer, corporal Balfour Gore, told the Observer that this year they had tried to develop the young participants’ sense of self-worth and improve their self-esteem while informing them of the importance of discipline.
Campers, the corporal said, were given lessons in:
* art and craft as well as reading;
* conflict resolution;
* general discipline and road usage; and
* personal hygiene.
He explained that they had opted to again hold this year’s camp at the Russia Basic School because the community remained one of the parish’s more volatile areas. In addition, he said, social interaction and strong role models for the youth were limited in the low income area.
“Values and attitudes are low in this area so we are here to build morale and self esteem,” he said. “The illiteracy rate is high among the children and, to add fire to fury, at summertime they forget about learning entirely. So the camp is geared in keeping them focused, and not just on fun things but also on the continuation of the learning process.”
In addition to those from Russia Basic School, teachers from the Godfrey Stewart High and Sheffield All Age schools assisted with the programme, while personnel from the fire department were invited to do lectures on fire safety.