(FP)

Barbadians are being urged to take advantage of Government’s free Easter Camps and sign up for them as soon as possible.

That is the word from Minister of Youth, Family and Sports, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, who said that with the global economic downturn affecting some Barbadian families, the camps should greatly assist parents.

“We have some families who are finding it difficult to make ends meet, and these camps will assist in taking some financial pressure off of them, especially those single-parent households. The camps will also ensure that children are properly supervised during the period – another major concern for parents,” Dr. Byer Suckoo stated.

Easter Camps will start next Monday, March 30, at 47 schools, community centres and sports complexes across the island. Some of these locations are St. George Primary, West Terrace Primary, St. Mary’s Primary, Hilda Skeene Primary, Half Moon Fort, All Saints Primary, St. Andrew’s Primary, St. Bernard’s Primary, Holy Innocents Primary and Milton Lynch Primary School.

Parents may now register their children for Camp Connections by calling the Ministry of Youth, Family and Sports, the Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St. Michael, at 430-2813. In addition, they may register at the Youth Expo which is scheduled for this Saturday, March 28, in Queen’s Park, starting at 10:00 a.m.

The Minister pointed out that the camps would be educational, recreational and informative and that campers would learn about children’s rights, money matters, good husbandry, tourism, Barbadian history, HIV/AIDS, and agriculture, among others.

“Some of these areas are relevant to Barbados at this time and it is important to educate our children about them. For example, in these trying economic times, all persons are being encouraged to manage their money and if the adults control their
spending, but the children don’t, then it is likely to have a negative impact on the family’s finances,” Dr. Byer-Suckoo stated.

She added that Government had implemented a number of initiatives to get children involved in agriculture and the sessions during the Easter Camp were designed to build their interest in the sector.

Another pertinent subject that will be addressed at some of the Easter Camps is HIV/AIDS and its implications. Members of the HIV/AIDS Commission’s Youth Committee will speak to this topic. “Education on HIV/AIDS also embraces issues such as self esteem and interpersonal relationships and these will be dealt with in an age-appropriate manner,” the Minister said.

The Easter Camp is the first of the three national camps planned for each calendar year. The others will be in summer when the children go on recess in July and August and Christmas in December.

saustin@barbados.gov.bb

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