On August 25th 2023, 28 young persons received certificates of completion from the Kalinago 120 Youth Disaster Managers Summer Camp program held in the Kalinago Territory. The participants were residents of Atkinson/Antrizel Sineku, Mahaut River, Gaulette River, St Cyr, Salybia, Crayfish River, Bataca and Touna Concord.
The program was held from August 21st – 25th, 2023 at the Salybia Primary School and was spearheaded by the Staff members of the Division of Kalinago Affairs under the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment. The program was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/BHA) represented by Mr. Cecil Shillingford – Disaster Risk Management Specialist.
The “Kalinago 120 Youth Disaster Managers Summer Day Camp” aims to educate young people about disaster management from hazards to which they may be vulnerable and to train them in basic emergency skills such as; introduction to First Aid, Fire Safety, CPR and Disaster preparedness best practices. Equipped with the skill sets learned in the classroom and during exercises, participants can assist others in their households, neighbourhood or schools following an event, when professional responders are not immediately available to help. At the closing ceremony Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment Mrs. Sylvanie Burton encouraged participants to use this experience to support and help promote school emergency management programmes by serving as “disaster management champions” in their respective Schools.
The Kalinago Youth Disaster Managers Summer Day Camp course was conducted in a fun and interactive environment where the students not only received theoretical knowledge but also hands on practical experiences.
The Kalinago Youth Disaster Managers Summer Workshop comprises of four (4) main elements:
- Disaster Awareness concepts (national and regional context)
- Humanitarian Assistance (roles and responsibilities of the individual and stakeholders)
- Functional Exercises
- Awards ceremony
Participants also had the opportunity to visit a disaster affected Community, A post-disaster resettlement area and the Office of Disaster Management in Jimmit.
Awards were presented to deserving participants as follows:
Champ of the Camp – Lina Burton of Salybia
Most Improved Participant – Destiny Williams of St Cyr
Most Discipline – Nabiel Valmond of Sineku
Camp spirit – Sheonte Charles of Bataca
From the 28 participants in the program, 12 young men completed the program. The Kalinago Youth Disaster Managers Summer Workshop was made up of various training sessions focused on enhancing the disaster and emergency management capacities of youth within the Kalinago Territory.
