The Valley, Anguilla- The 2021 Hello Tourist’s Group Project Challenge, would see students of the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School emerge victorious.
The Hello Tourist programme (HTP) is a special tourism awareness initiative geared to Grade Six students aged 11-12 to foster greater understanding of the world of Tourism and the importance of the Service Experience to the guest, as well as the importance of conserving our natural environment and cultural identity as hosts.
Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 reality, certain aspects of the programme had to be reimagined. However, the students have undertaken projects aimed at highlighting the importance of the Environment as well as entrepreneurial opportunities open to them that can complement the tourism industry. To this end, the students have been challenged to use their natural artistic skills and talents to create an environmentally-friendly project that aims to beautify or conserve the natural environment and preserve our culture.
On Friday June 4th, the Group Projects were judged. Four schools participated, namely Valley Primary School, Morris Vanterpool Primary School, Vivien Vanterpool Primary School and Alwyn Allison Richardson Primary School.
Judging was carried out by a team of three judges from the Department of Education, in the person of Mrs. Candis Niles, Ms. Deavene Guishard, and Mrs. Wenonah Lawrence.
The judges ruled that fourth place went to MVPS with a score of 242, while the third place awardee was AARPS with a total score of 248; Second place was awarded to VPS with a score of 261, and the first place honours were awarded to VVPS with a score of 270.
Three of the projects focused on beautification of the environment through the planting of floral and herbal gardens, while one school chose to focus on the preservation of cultural norms as the students learned and executed the art of basket weaving.
The judges were impressed by the level of creativity, skill and engagement, and enthusiasm displayed by the students, and the level of enjoyment that they displayed as they spoke with the judges about their projects and some of the challenges they experienced in working to bring the projects to fruition.
The group project aims to help students to focus on the natural environment as well as the importance of preserving their culture and highlights the importance of teamwork and community outreach and partnership in achieving common goals. The students are also given the opportunity to verbally express their thoughts on the process to the judges.
The judges were satisfied that there was evidence of these objectives having been realised in all submissions.
The Tourism Education Unit of the Department of Education extends sincere thanks and appreciation to the sponsors of the trophies for the Group Project, ANGLEC, who has been an invaluable partner in this endeavor.
– Press Release
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
