Althea Neal’s summer camp is about love
When it comes to crime, theories abound on what should be done to keep youths from falling to the wayside. Tonight, one private citizen is doing her part to occupy young minds and fill a void among children in communities which are prone to violence. Kendra Griffith reports.
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
For the last five summers, children from the Yabra neighbourhood have been converging in the yard of Althea Neal at the corner of Fairweather and Queen Charlotte streets.
Althea Neal, Camp Organizer
“Every year during the summer time, I usually have vacation bible school for the children in the Yarborough are here because the children are running, walking up and down about the street.”
Forty children attended this year’s two-week camp, participating in various activities.
Althea Neal
“They do different type of craft work, then they do sports, then we do skits, we do singing.”
Last year, Neal introduced a drum corps…
Althea Neal
“The drumming is myself and themselves.”
Kendra Griffith
“So you are a drummer?”
Althea Neal
“No, no, but I just want to get them active and not to be about the street you know.”
Casey Jones, Drummer
“I listen to the people and I play and I goh on the road and when the carnival di pass, I listen to the beat them.”
Egbert Stevens, Drummer
“I want learn fi beat drum cause yoh wah learn quick if you listen to the person who di beat the drum.”
Kendra Griffith
“That dah how you learn?”
Egbert Stevens
“Yes ma’am.”
Kendra Griffith
“So you really like it?”
Egbert Stevens
“Yes ma’am.”
Kendra Griffith
“Do you have a favourite song weh you like play?”
Delin Jones, Drummer
“Yes ma’am.”
Kendra Griffith
“Which one?”
Playing drum…
Althea Neal
“The materials for the drumming were a donation I asked for last year. We had three drums from our church from the high school and the pastor gave me permission to use it and then I ask for support from the church and they buy four drum for us, so we need some more drums because I need to get more boys in.”
But aside from imparting musical skills, Neal is also spreading the message of brotherly love.
Althea Neal
“My theme is love one another. I am telling them right now, we di black people are killing out one another, so they must learn to love God first, then, love themselves, their parents and all the people that take care of them that are older: brother, sister, teachers, and uncles.”
The camp ends on Saturday. Kendra Griffith, reporting for News Five.
If you would like to assist Althea Neal in procuring additional drums, contact her at 660-7147.
