BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FATHERS will be the focus for this year’s Child Month celebrations which is being held under the theme “Save Our Fathers: Children Need Fathers Too”.
According to the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Development Unit, Vanta Walters, three things are into consideration whenever they look at choosing a theme for Child Month.
The first point they look at is one of the major issues affecting society. “And the high issue is crime, and most of the persons falling victim are the young men,” she said.
The second point is if it is a concern to the Early Childhood Unit, and something they want the general public to give their support.
“Several of the children enrolled in the schools come from homes with fathers who have fallen victim to crime, and the third point we look at is what the United Nations declare the year to be. And there were several themes, but we choose the one that is more relevant to the other two points,” Walters said.
The Coordinator said that the United Nations has declared this year to be the International Year of Youth Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.
“We found that one of the reasons for the high crime rate is that the youths are not dialoguing; they have no tolerance, no discussions, no mutual understanding…just this constant turf war,” she said. “So when we take these three points into consideration, we coined the theme and we felt that we can also add our voice to this ongoing dialogue in search of a solution.
And we hope the month’s activities would lend a positive impact on our men and fathers.”
The month began with a Promotional Day on June 1, with fliers and bookmarks distribution while Parade Day was held in Nevis on June 4.
Walters said that the parades for this year would be with a difference. She said that the parade held in Nevis was successful and she is hoping that the same would occur in St. Kitts.
“This year’s parades are appeals to the fathers and will be an all men parade. The men will be the ones holding their children’s hands and the mothers and women would stand on the side and watch or march at the back. If the fathers are not available, then the next significant male in that child’s life will march…but no females.
“This will be an opportunity for the men to shine and we’re hoping that this will motivate the delinquent men to be involved,” she said.
The other activities for the month include a concert in Nevis and Rural East Fun Day in Cayon that was held on Thursday (June 10) and the Rural West Fun day was held in St. Pauls while the Kittitian Spice Concert will be held in St. Kitts on Tuesday, June 15.
On the following day, there will be a Sports Day in Nevis, and on Thursday, June 17 there will be a 10-Overs Cricket match at the Patsy Allers Playing Field.
On Friday (June 18), a Family Food Fair and Fun Day will be held at the Independence Square and June 22 has been dubbed ‘Fathers in Focus’ in St. Kitts and will see fathers actively involved in their child/ward lives by taking them to school and helping to cook lunch, etc.
On June 28 and 29 there will be an Art & Craft Exhibition in St. Kitts and Nevis, respectively, with artwork made by both father and child, while on the final day of the month-long celebration will be dubbed “Appreciation Day”.
The child month shirt colour for this year is Texas Orange.
