Pupils in a Home School Programme, being run by Mr. Andrew Blake, are at the beginning of a summer camp in partnership with the Sovereign Grace Baptist Church at George Hill.
The camp is being led by Ms. Dahlia Shields, who is originally from Jamaica but has been living in Anguilla since 2009. She was once the Principal of the Omololu International School and now works with Mr. Blake.
“The summer camp is for boys but many girls are interested and, as I cannot just throw them out, I have accepted them,” Ms. Shields explained. “I find that many young people are so tuned in to the internet, video games, and electronic devices, that they spend no time learning life skills. As a result, we decided to put this programme together where the children would do a little bit of farming; a little wood-work; learn how to fish; how to groom themselves; and how to cook for themselves – as well as other activities around the house.”
She went on: “I have been blessed to have many persons giving back to the community through this programme. One of the persons I have is Mark Proffer who has been working at Zemi Beach; Carlos Rogers who has been assisting me with auto-mechanics; and Mr. Titus who has also been helping with auto parts. A son of the soil, Mr. Liam Harrigan, a US Navy student, will be in Anguilla to conduct drills for the children in the mornings.
“I am hoping to have more children participating in the life skills. They are doing so many things and will now also begin building vegetable seedbeds. They are making their own seed boxes from scratch – nailing and learning what a hammer is; and, among other things, they are learning how to scale and fillet fish. I am really excited about the programme.”
During this week, a number of the Home School Programme students were taken on a tour of the Agricultural Department where they were shown various types of farming. The purpose of the tour was to expose them to many alternative agricultural activities in which they can engage themselves in the further development of their life skills.
