Online messenger ‘powering National Summer Camps’

This year’s National Summer Camp programme opened on Monday incorporating the instant messaging service WhatsApp as a central tool for youth engagement, according to Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith.

Speaking at a church service on Sunday marking the programme’s commencement at the Power in the Blood Assembly, Griffith revealed: “This year, we are running camps by WhatsApp. From [Monday], we will be hitting the settings, and we will be hitting reset in the lives of those 3 000 young persons.”

The minister emphasised the transformative potential of this approach: “It is our aim; it is our pledge to ensure that at the end of five weeks, that when we hit that reset, that that private screen that was dark, that we’re able to brighten.”

This shift towards a technology-driven method represents a significant departure from traditional camp activities. Griffith explained: “We believe that we have now moved from the lolly sticks and tie-dye within the camp system. It can no longer obtain for our young people.”

The summer camp programme is set to engage approximately 3 000 young people, with nearly 400 young volunteers taking on leadership roles. Griffith expressed his gratitude to these volunteers: “I want to extend gratitude to almost 400 youngsters who are embarking on guiding our youngsters in the camp system.”

He also acknowledged the efforts of his team and camp directors: “Gratitude to the members of my team who, year after year, put together the summer camps programme. I want to say gratitude to the directors of the summer camps, who you will not see, but they’re working to ensure that.”

Addressing broader societal issues, the minister for youth highlighted a leadership crisis among youth, drawing parallels with the national parenting crisis. “One of the things that is missing from our youth ranks is leadership. It is a problem,” he said. In response, the summer camps aim to embed leadership and life skills into their programmes.

The minister elaborated: “In our summer camps, in a small way, in five weeks, we’re trying to impart that leadership so life skills will be embedded in our summer camps programme, as in all of our programmes.”

Griffith also expressed concern over rising crime rates among young people: “As the Minister of Youth, I cringe every time that I see someone less than 19 years old fallen as a result of crime.” He said he hopes an innovative camp programme will guide young people towards positive futures and away from criminal behaviour.

He called for continued support from the community and the church: “I want you to continue as a church to lift up the ministry, to lift up those who are contributing time. Because 400 or so volunteers in an attempt to ensure that we have a structured environment where we’re instilling discipline.”