Summer camp not just for city kids
Every summer seems to bring increased opportunities for kids in the old capital to trade the squalor of the city for the fresh vistas of the Belizean countryside. But what about the children who live in rural areas? This morning News 5’s Jacqueline Woods found out.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
It was the first time that children living in the Belize River Valley got the opportunity to attend summer camp in the area. Both the children and villagers agreed that the activity was needed to give the boys and girls something positive to do on their long break from school.
Delda Blades, Facilitator, Summer Camp
“Being from the Belize River Valley and I’ve taught here many years ago. I know that our children need some academic and social skills, so I decided that we need to move on with this and get the summer camp going.”
Klemencia Wade, 16 years old
“Well the children, if there weren’t any summer classes, the children would just roam about the whole village and shoot the birds with slingshots. And they will not stay home at all to help their parents at home with what their parents have to do.”
Seventy-six children attended the camp that ran for two weeks in the village of Bermudian Landing. It was facilitated by teachers now living in Belize City who decided it was time to give back to the community in which they were raised.
Delda Blades
“It was a great effort. It was hard work. Everyday we get together and say it’s getting tired; we’re doing so much. But because of what we see we accomplish each day, we get more energised. So the next day we come full course. And for me, going back and forth from Belize City, it was a great challenge for me, but I make sure that because I was committed and I was the person behind this, I make sure that I am here everyday.”
The children not only got to sing folk songs along with local greats like Brad Pattico, but also received extra lessons in school subjects like English, math and reading. One interesting exercise included a display of what life used to be like in the Belriv communities. The facilitators say it was quite an eye opener for many of the children because they simply had no idea that their parents had to use a dory for transportation, scrubbing board for laundry, cabbage broom for cleaning house and the fire hearth for cooking.
Jacqueline Woods
“What will you tell the boys and girls who did not attend the summer camp, what will you tell them about the summer camp?”
Natasha Rivers, 10 years old
“I will tell that that I had fun and they should come too next year.”
Camp facilitator, Delda Blades says despite a few challenges there will be another camp next year and they are looking forward to exposing more children to the experience. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
The summer camp received financial assistance from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust and U.N.D.P.
