BASSTERRE, St. Kitts - IN keeping with the theme of "Creativity and fun", the Department of Youth Empowerment held a successful T-shirt Challenge and would soon be announcing its winner and presenting that lucky person with a HP Slate Tablet, courtesy Gamers Lounge.
The Department's Annual Residential Summer Camp will be celebrating 31 years this year and the organisers decided to add a creative initiative by having a T-shirt Design Challenge among the children in St. Kitts.
SKNVibes spoke with Senior Youth Officer Pierre Liburd and Youth Officer Suelika Creque, who both explained that the challenge was a means of showcasing the creativity of the nation's youths.
"The T-shirt Design Challenge was designed to showcase and celebrate the creativity and talent of youths and also to create a sense of excitement and pride among campers for the Annual Summer Camp, as well as facilitate in the development of graphic and design skills among youths," Creque explained.
The Challenge was open to children in primary and high school ages eight to 16 years and was held from February 24 to April 5.
Children were asked to create a design that would be the focus of the T-shirts for this year. The design must have included the Youth Department's logo and this year's Summer Camp theme: "Summer Camp 31, securing our future with creativity and fun".
Word of the challenge was sent to all of the primary and high schools in St. Kitts. Designs are presently still being collected but, so far, the Department has some 15 to choose from.
The winner's logo will be showcased on the Summer Camp's T-shirts. The winner will also receive free registration for this year's camp as well as arts supplies, courtesy Harpers.
The Youth Officers thanked the sponsors - Gamers Lounge and Harpers - for coming onboard.
The Annual Residential Summer Camp will be held from June 13 to 27 and caters to 200 children between the ages of eight and 16.
"It is a fun, engaging and safe environment for young persons to come and socialise and develop health and social skills and interact with young persons. They also develop practical skills in a number of fields, including drumming, dancing, arts and crafts, wood work, computers and agriculture.
"We also engage them in hikes, physical training and there is the business aspect that we are hoping to return to this year, where they learn to develop their own business...The idea of this camp is to cater to the holistic development of young person," Liburd explained.
Registration for campers is presently open and parents can register their children online at www.youth.gov.kn.
The Department is also seeking Camp Leaders and interested persons can also register online. Creque explained that there is also a process where they would be interviewed and trained to ensure that they are fully equipped.
Camp Leader registration ends on May 2 while registration for campers ends on June 2.
The winner of the T-shirt Design Challenge would be announced next week. The Youth Officers will visit the winner's school and make the presentation there.
