Project Reach activity focused on improving campers’ self-esteem

Participants of the Project Reach camp had an exciting day on Tuesday at the St Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School, as they engaged in a painting session aimed at strengthening their prosocial skills and self-esteem.

The camp, which was organised by the Secondary School Counselling Programme (SSCP) as part of its summer 2023 activities, targeted 50 students in first and second form at 10 secondary schools across the island.

Shane Eastmond speaking to campers before the start of the day’s project.

Senior Psychologist in the Ministry of Education Juanita Brathwaite-Wharton told Barbados TODAY that the aim of the camp was not only to increase students’ self-awareness but also their self-worth.

“The whole purpose of the programme really is to teach social and emotional skills to junior secondary children; to teach students the kind of ancillary skills they will need to help them to be more effective [and] more functional at the secondary school level. So we are looking at things like self-esteem and anger management, and emotions management and so on,” she explained.

“The idea actually started last year at the Frederick Smith Secondary School with just students from that school, but we have extended it to nine other schools this year.”

A Reaching Out to Our Community Day, where students will have the chance to assist various members of the community, is one of the planned project activities. 

Artist Shane Eastmond was brought on to help in the painting and designing of five garbage cans that will be placed at five locations, each one reflecting one of the values of Project Reach – Respect, Empathy, Ambition, Confidence, and Humility.

One of the camp’s organisers, Laurel Springer, said that despite hesitation from some campers, they all quickly got on board with the activities as they were excited for the opportunity to give back. 

“I can tell you initially, as with all things, they were a little bit shy. We have students from about 10 different schools across the island that the Secondary School Counsellors Programme is in, so there was the usual trepidation and shyness with the students getting to know persons. But as the days went on, we saw our numbers climbing, we saw them really getting together and enjoying themselves, and now I actually had one of the students say that he looks forward to coming to the programme every day,” Springer said.

“It just really shows that our students are interested in engaging in prosocial activities if given the opportunity,” she added. (SB)