During summer, many activities are held in our communities to enable children who are on school vacation to spend their time constructively.
These activities, for the most part, are referred to as “camps”. During the period July 19th to July 30th, Managing Director of Kool FM, Mr. Leroy “Bro. Lee” Richardson, took the initiative to conduct a 2-week Radio Training Camp for youngsters. The camp’s theme was “Learning the Basics of Radio Operation”. It catered to young people who had an interest in radio work – and announcing in particular.
At the close of the camp, on Friday, July 30th, The Anguillian asked Bro. Lee what inspired him to run such a camp, and he gave us a very comprehensive background to this great idea:
“It was more than three years ago,” he said, “that I got the idea of a radio summer camp, but I had to repeatedly put it off because of the KooL FM Children’s Day, of which I am the Committee’s President. This event systematically occurred during the summer vacation and at the peak of the summer festivities.
“Since large gatherings have been currently suspended, due to Covid-19 protocols, the Children’s Day had to be cancelled this year. I immediately thought that this would be the ideal opportunity, therefore, to host the long-contemplated radio camp. With much hope, I launched the venture and, through the assistance of the Department of Youth and Culture, I was able to have the pleasure of working with six enthusiastic participants whom I have diligently coached for the past two weeks.”
Bro Lee continued: “The objective of the KooL FM Radio Training Camp was to see how the youth would express their interest, love and passion for learning the basics skills of radio broadcasting, with emphasis on announcing. Such interests could eventually lead them into other aspects of radio work such as news readers, writing and editing, journalism and professional radio broadcasting.”
“Of all the summer camps held around the island,” Bro. Lee observed, “no one seemed to be recruiting young people for the field of media – be it print or broadcast. We have many media retirees who, in my opinion, should be passing on their skills and knowledge to the young people. Someone has to be first to do so, and I am happy that I have been first.”
According to Bro Lee, the KooL FM Basic Radio Training Summer Camp, under the theme “Learning the Basics of Radio Operation”, was a remarkable success. “The participants were very excited about radio operations,” he said, “and they have shown much pride in what they have accomplished in the short two-week period. They vow to be on the next Radio Camp whenever that may be.”
Those participating in this first Radio Camp were: Tyrique Alexander, Andrique Alexander, Patrique Alexander, Zack Francis, Jaichur Jackman and Orecia Tatyana Lewis.
