KIND Summer Camp comes to an end

Approximately 30 children from several primary schools in and around Kingstown have been able to benefit from the teachings of this year’s Kids In Need of Direction (KIND) Summer Camp. In a ceremony that took place on Friday, August 22nd, at the Thomas Saunders Secondary School, the summer camp came to an official end.{{more}}

Hosted by the Ministry of Education and funded by the Ministry of Health, through its AIDS Secretariat and several other ministries, including the Ministry of National Security, the KIND Summer Camp is in its second year of functioning. Having run from August 4 – 22, it was first conceptualised in April 2007, and, according to Camp Coordinator Education Officer Jasmine Francois-Creese, “…came out of a need to respond to the climate of intolerance and violence presently prevailing in our society.”

The children were involved in sessions that dealt with several topics, including self esteem building, conflict resolution, HIV awareness, drug awareness and prevention, anger management and good citizenship. They also participated in arts & craft classes and dance, karate and music lessons. Additionally, they were taken on field trips to places of interest. A team of Japanese overseas volunteers, despite the language barrier, taught the participants a bit of the Japanese language and culture.

In her remarks, Francois-Creese wished the children all the best in the upcoming school term. She also related that the participants at the summer camp had felt like one united family. “That is indeed the feeling we wanted to create,” she shared. Creese further encouraged the parents present to learn more from their children, as they possess a “…joy and innocence” that adults leave behind once they have passed childhood.

Several of the children were awarded prizes in the categories of Discipline, Helpfulness, Punctuality, Kindness, Quiz Winners, Most Improved and Most Outstanding.