Plenty energy at the camp

The tour included the factories where some of Angostura’s products are made. The youths were also taken into the Butterfly Atrium, containing over 500 species of butterfly and the Angostura Museum, which contains relics of Angostura’s past and evidence of their present history.

The other 40 campers, however, remained at the Laventille Community Centre where they continued their usual activities. Both boys and the girls were involved in netball and dance sessions and were given their tour the next day.

The camp, in its fourth year, aims to empower the children of Laventille through sport. Michel Dinchong, Elizabeth Namsoo and Giselle Laronde-West of Angostura spearhead the camp which was conceptualised out of Angostura’s desire to do something positive for the children of Laventille, which is the area in which the company is located.

“We wanted to give the children of the area an opportunity to get out of their home environment. They have a lot of energy which, we believe, can be harvested in a very positive way-through sport.

“This camp gives these children the opportunity to practise sports that they are already familiar with and also to learn sports which they have never been exposed to,” said Laronde-West, Corporate Communications Manager. “They are the gems of Laventille and we at Angostura, want to encourage them to shine in their own way,” she said.

Theron Joseph, the camp co-ordinator and teacher at the Morvant Anglican School, said that the camp aims to “develop a closer relationship with the Laventille Community through the children.” He said the children are lectured by persons from their community who have gone on to become successful in various fields. This, he believes, will empower the children and let them know that it is possible to become successful and “achieve all that they can.”

The two-week camp ended on Friday.