Over 140 Young People Engaged in B.D.F. Summer Camp 2022
Today, the Belize Defence Force concluded its annual summer camp at Price Barracks. Over one hundred and forty young persons, ages seven to seventeen, were engaged in two weeks of camp. They learned more about techniques in different sports, cooking and baking and even the creative arts. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Since July twenty-fifth, B.D.F. soldiers had taken on roles as instructors to approximately one hundred and forty young participants from across the country that have been learning one of six programs at the military headquarters in Ladyville.
Jereen Chun
Cpl. Jereen Chun, Instructor, B.D.F. Summer Camp
“We have cooking, music, football, basketball, swimming and taekwondo. Most of the kids, because as we know Belizean kids are into sports so most of them already have that basic knowledge of football and basketball so they are just improving on those skills; like how to properly pass the ball, how to properly shoot the ball and same thing with football. We also have instructors that were recently trained to train from four year olds up.”
Seventeen-year-old Belize City resident Shaquan Petzold has been coming to the camp for a few years. He’s done boating in the past, but has a love for basketball. Due to his age, this will be his last year participating in the camp.
Shaquan Petzold
Shaquan Petzold, Belize City Resident
“Fi di people weh noh know how to dribble, it will teach you how to dribble with both of your hands. I noh really good with my left hand so they teach me how to dribble with my left hand. And then they also make we learn how to shoot cause some of the pikney weh deh deh, dehn neva know how to shoot and now today dah di last day and most of them could shoot dende shot deh. If yo look pan most of dehn pikney weh deh yah, most of them dah from different part of Belize and most of them dah my good friends now because I neva know dehn di first day, but now today dah di last day and I could say I could talk to most of them when I see dehn pan the street.”
For eight-year-old Lord’s Bank resident Alayzha Revers, she’s not about picking fights with others, but has learned how to defend herself against a bully.
Alayzha Revers
Alayzha Revers, Lord’s Bank Resident
“The first thing that we learned was how to punch; then we learned how to block, kick and then we learned about chinju.”
Duane Moody
“From what I understand, you are only supposed to use these skills when yo di defend yourself. Yo cant pick fight, right?”
Alayzha Revers
“Yes sir. We have to use it when someone is bullying us or when we see the bully fighting with someone else.”
A number of the camp-goers engaged in learning more about cooking and baking techniques, including fifteen-year-olds Divyne Gonguez from Belize City and Andre Mira, the son of Minister of State for National Defence, Oscar Mira. The food was delicious and they plan to take these skills back home.
Divyne Gonguez
Divyne Gonguez, Belize City Resident
“I learn how to bake banana bread, banana muffins, cupcake, cakes and all kinds of stuff like that.”
Duane Moody
“So what is it that you guys made for today?”
Divyne Gonguez
“We made shrimps kebobs, chicken kebob, donuts, muffins, chicken nuggets, sandwich and fish fingers.”
Andre Mira, Belmopan Resident
“I decided to join this camp because I just wanted to have a new skill in my life which was cooking because I also love to cook and I wanted to improve on that even more by joining the B.D.F. camp summer lessons.”
Andre Mira
Duane Moody
“Let’s talk about what you learned over the last two weeks.”
Andre Mira
“Well I learned a lot of things. I learnt how to bake, I learnt the different tools in the kitchen and I learnt how to cook. The two weeks were probably one of the ‘funnest’ two weeks I’ve ever had in my life. I think that this is a very good way for kids to get out of their homes during summer and not just sit around and play games and watch TV.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
