Grantley Adams Memorial launches first travel club with Panama trip planned

The first Grantley Adams Travel Club is preparing to travel to Panama in August, giving Grantley Adams Memorial Secondary School students an opportunity to experience a new culture while strengthening their understanding of language, business and history.

The initiative, which emerged from the Business Studies Department, was created to broaden students’ horizons beyond the classroom and provide real-world learning experiences.

Teacher and travel club president Mary Thompson told Barbados TODAY the idea was born out of the school’s Spanish for Business programme.

“The travel club basically was derived of the business studies department. We have Spanish for business here at the school, and we thought it would be a good idea to create a platform. Students can, you know, just broaden their horizon, have a cultural exchange within the language.”

Thompson explained that Panama was selected because it offers students much more than a Spanish-speaking environment.

“We sought to take a set of students in Panama, obviously because they’re Spanish speaking, rich in its culture.”

When asked why Panama was chosen over other Spanish-speaking destinations, she noted that the country’s appeal extends beyond language.

“For a number of reasons, its history. We have quite a number of students who are interested in business. Apart from Spanish, Panama has a number of other things. Business, it has history, so that would have been a good choice, along with of course shopping to keep them interested because, you know, teenagers will need to be able to cater to their needs.”

The club has attracted significant interest from students across the school.

“We have about 86 students registered,” Thompson revealed, adding that while some students may not be able to participate for various reasons, many remain eager to be involved but this particular trip is mainly for the upper school students.

Although the club has not yet had the opportunity to meet formally as a complete group because of examinations and end-of-term activities, Thompson said the Panama trip will effectively become its first major undertaking.

To assist with travel costs, the club will host a fundraising family fun day on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the school. Thompson said activities will cater to all ages.

“We have lots of things planned. We have a kids’ zone because, you know, when you go to these things there are the little ones. We have a zone especially for the little ones. Then the bigger children have activities. We have lucky dips,” she said, encouraging members of the public to support the effort.

Students selected for the trip are already looking forward to the experience and the opportunity to explore a new country.

Keiana Straughn, a student office administrator for the club, said she hoped to return with “probably some clothes, maybe a couple school things” ahead of the new school year.

Club member Elisha Cherubin-Hunte said she was interested in bringing back “shoes, things like that”.

For Trinity Lucas, another student office administrator for the club, however, the experience itself is what matters most.

“I just been overseas for the experience… but I wanna bring back a bag for school and probably just like perfumes or anything for my mother or my parents,” she said.

Thompson praised the students involved in the initiative and said they deserve opportunities to grow through travel and cultural exchange.

“In the age where we have children, you know, in the news we’re always painting children, teenagers negatively, we have some lovely children here,” she said. “They deserve every opportunity that we can.”

The trip is expected to include cultural and educational experiences in Panama, including a visit to an indigenous village. Thompson hinted that students have not yet been told everything that is planned.

“I haven’t told them. They don’t know a lot of what we are doing, but it’s a surprise,” she said.

(LE)