M.O.E. and Crime Stoppers team up for Expressive Arts Summer Camp

An expressive arts camp in drama, dance and arts and craft culminated today at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts. The camp was sponsored by the Ministry of Education to promote patriotism and by Crimestoppers Belize. Close to fifty students participated and they were beaming with pride as they showed off to friends and family the new techniques they had acquired. Freelance reporter Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

The Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts was overflowing with creative arts presentations this afternoon. It was the close of an expressive arts camp designed to teach the participants the skills and techniques of the arts.

Leroy Green

Leroy Green, Coordinator Expressive Arts Summer Camp

“Apart from taking home the tangible stuff that they manufactured during the three weeks, we also expect them to have at least an idea of what patriotism means—what it means to promote Belize—and also what it means to promote the organization that can help to fight against crime.”

The three week camp was for young persons—ages seven to fourteen; the participants say they developed skills they never knew they had.

Gianna Brow

Gianna Brown, Camp Participant

“We learnt facial expressions and how to act and if you forget a line you don’t show it; that you forget it, but you just put something else in it. I’m not really into drama, but my mother she is into drama. And I pick drama because everybody was telling me pick drama, pick drama. So I just went in and…”

Duane Moody

“And found out that you are good at it.”

Gianna Brown

“Yeah I am; I noticed that. [laughs]”

Shawnel Jones, Camp Participant

Shawnel Jones

“To express yourself.”

Duane Moody

“Through dance; you were part of the dance program. Tell us about that. What you learned.”

Shawnel Jones

“I learn that I could keep on practicing more and dance a little bit more.”

It’s an initiative of the Ministry of Education to promote Patriotism and Crime Stoppers Belize says coordinator, Leroy Green.

Leroy Green

“You would have noticed that most of the art pieces say Belize; we love Belize because we are promoting patriotism. And then we are also doing a section promoting crime stoppers Belize. So the art had two main ideas that was the center of all we did—even the dances, the skits and everything. Some focused on Belize, some focused on Crime Stoppers Belize.”

Co-sponsors of the camp are the National Institute of Culture and History and Crime Stoppers Belize. Chief Operating Officer of Crime Stoppers, Chris Garcia, says the program provides the youths with an alternative to crime.

Chris Garcia

Chris Garcia, C.O.O., Crime Stoppers Belize

“It is important for us to be a part of programs like these because although we say Crime Stoppers, it doesn’t just mean dealing with hardcore crime, it also means helping children not to get involved in a life of crime. And so if you catch them from early, keep them busy; give them alternative things to do—fun things to do—and also teach them responsibilities for themselves, their families , their communities, then in the future we will see a much better Belize than we’re experiencing right now.”

Duane Moody for News Five.