Mayaro students celebrate African heritage

The four -week camp, organised by the Mayaro Past Pupils Association (MPPA), catered for 65 students from Mayaro and neighbouring communities who were successful in the 2006 SEA examinations. It came to an end on Friday.

As the camp fell within the Emancipation Day celebrations, the campers were divided into groups representing six African countries, Egypt, Somalia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Ghana.

The students researched the culture of the countries and each group did a presentation in song, dance or drama on the respective country. At the end of the performances, a skit entitled “A Nigerian Wedding” was adjudged the winner.

Based at the bpTT Mayaro Resource Centre, the students were led by camp counsellors and facilitators in inter-active sessions dealing with topics such as peer pressure, personal hygiene, expectations at secondary school, sexuality and HIV/AIDS. They also engaged in sessions dealing with the secondary school syllabus, dance and singing classes, drama and art and craft.

A field trip to the Emperor Valley Zoo in Port-of-Spain, a visit to Trincity Mall and an appetising tour of the Kiss factory in Chaguanas, were special highlights enjoyed by the campers.

Main sponsor of the annual camp was bpTT, with support from bgTT, bhp billiton, NGC and Talisman, which all operate in the Mayaro community.

MPPA President, Oliver Alexander said the vacation camp was an important facet of the development of the young students of Mayaro.

The final day of camp was a bitter-sweet occasion as the youngsters bade farewell to their fellow campers, at the same time looking forward to their first day of secondary school.