SVG Red Cross Society launches annual summer programme

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross Society launched its second annual summer programme for children between the ages of five and 15 yesterday.{{more}}

The programme, which is being held at the Anglican School in the vicinity of Victoria Park, is sponsored by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Port Authority.

Participants will learn basic disaster management tips and skills, health and safety tips and skills and HIV peer counselling. Sessions in climate change and first aid will also be done.

According to Julia Simmons, an overseer of the summer programme, the children will also enjoy the usual summer camp activities like art and craft and field trips.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, Red Cross facilitator Shellece Baptiste said that the programme is focused on building youth.

“With our summer programme we try to base it on building youth by teaching them skills that they would actually use in the future,” she said.

Baptiste also noted that the programme has grown since its first year.

“This year has been our biggest programme. We have about 40 to 50 students. Last year we had only 15 students,” she revealed.

Mariah Millington, another Red Cross facilitator, said that she wants the children to have fun at the summer programme.

“We don’t want it to be like a classroom where you come and listen to teachers talk. We want them to have fun,” she said.

The programme commenced on Tuesday, August 5 and will come to an end on August 16, 2013. (CA)