BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A relatively large number of females between the ages of 14-16 years are now more knowledgeable about the realistic respect they must have for themselves.
This chapter in the lives of these young females was made possible by the oldest summer camp in the Federation, the Youth Department’s 32nd Annual Residential Youth Camp, which continues to play its part in the shaping of the nation’s youth.
The camp is currently being ran at the Beach Allen Primary School, and earlier this week Marketing and Human Resource Manager of the St. Kitts Co-operative Credit Union, Julie Charles held discussions on Self-Esteem with that group of teenagers.
In an effort to ensure full participation during the session, Charles strategically employed a system of asking each of them to provide their names and a hypothetical question of “if you had the choice of being an animal, which one would it be”.
That exercise not only created laughter among the participants and a passion to participate, but also gasps to some of the answers provided which ranged from lizards to platypuses to butterflies and eagles, among others.
Seemingly, that broke the ice and allowed Charles to complete a very successful discussion on the topic.
She told the young ladies that “everybody cannot have long hair or be the prettiest, but remember you are all unique”, to which one participant exclaimed: “But I have a twin who looks like me!” In response, Charles stressed: “Your twin might look like you, but you are both still unique.”
Charles, who is also known as a social commentator, provided the teens an opportunity to have their say on their perception of Self-Esteem.
Most of them, including LaNique Wiliams, were commended for their brilliant answers and Charles defined it as “having confidence in yourself and believing in yourself, no matter what may be said about you”.
Charles ended her discussion by imploring the girls to have high self-esteem and to share what they learnt with family members, peers and friends.
Speaking with this publication, two campers, Eddencia Gaiton and Serita Duporte were asked their feelings about the session.
Gaiton said “it was an interacting and uplifting session”, while Duporte stated, “I really enjoyed the session. It was short, sweet and to the point.”
This year’s camp, themed “Summer Camp 32 – A Safe Place to Grow for Me and You”, commenced on Sunday, July 19 and will conclude on Sunday, August 2.
According to Senior Youth Officer in the Youth Department Diane Dunrod-Francis, the camp had catered to house some 200 children between the ages of eight to 16 years.
In a previous interview, she had informed that the children would be involved in a number of activities, including a Talent Show, a Sports Day, Sand Castle Building Competition, a Gospel Night, Karaoke and Field Trips to several organisations including Ross University, Basseterre Fire Station, Basseterre Police Station, St. Kitts Marriott Resort and the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
Dunrod-Francis also informed that the children would be engaged in several disciplines including Music, Spanish, Football, Art and Craft, Videography, Drumming, Leadership, and discussions on Bullying and Puberty.
