The San Fernando City Corporation has launched the Mayor’s City Stars Vacation Camp, its first vacation camp under the leadership of the 12th Council, aimed at targeting youth development through sports, etiquette, and culture.
Held at the recently refurbished Skinner Park, the three-week initiative brings together children aged 7 to 16 for training in sports, music, etiquette, and ballroom dancing.
Mayor Robert Parris is hopeful the camp will bring a return of the values that once united the city’s youth.
“What we’re trying to do simply is to recreate what it is that was done in the past. I think that Trinidad and Tobago has all of the ingredients to be a cohesive, successful country, especially when it has to do with taking care of the young people.”
The Mayor said 121 children are now participating in the inaugural camp, and he is calling on civil society and national leaders to find new ways of connecting with youth.
“So I think that for a first attempt, this is something that we could continue because it’s not about us, and again, I keep calling for our leaders in our country to do something different and engage our young persons in a meaningful, purposeful way, and that is what we are trying to do in the city of San Fernando.”
With support from SportTT, the Machel Cedenio Foundation, and private sponsors, campers are guided through football, netball, steelpan, and even fine dining, all for a minimal fee.
Olympian Machel Cedenio shared why he chose to partner with the Mayor for the camp.
“I’m here because I’ve been working with the Mayor for the past year, and you know he showed a true passion for sports, and you know wherever I can help to help his vision to come through in the city of San Fernando to make it a better place for sports, for youth, you know, I’m just here to lend my support, lend my expertise of years of track and field to give back to the community of San Fernando.”
National Scout Commissioner of the Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Mark Ainsley John, said the Association seizes any opportunity to contribute to the development of young people.
“Working together with the city of San Fernando and His Worship ensures that we are able to help educate, support, and create in young people a new perspective of who they are through sporting and outdoor activities. And collaboratively we want to assist His Worship in continuing to develop young people because, as he’s indicated, civil society needs to work with government, needs to work with business, needs to work together to ensure that our future is taken care of.”
The camp runs Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm, ending with the highly anticipated Mayor’s Children’s Ball, where students will showcase all they’ve learnt.