By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Character building is a crucial part in preparing the youth for their future. Through fun games and sports activities, the kids would be able to learn how to interact with their peers. It is in this premise that Veronica Fox held the “Seeds of Promise Sports Camp 2006 Character Above Talent.”
Some 30 kids of different nationalities have joined the three-day camp from Dec. 27-29 at the Palau High School Gym.
Fox has invited some guest speakers, who are experts in their field of sports like Peoria Koshiba, Ngerak Florencio and a pro soccer player from Venezuela, Mike Steinmetz.
Steinmetz taught the kids, who aged eight to 13, soccer drills as well as the importance of education.
Fox said that Steinmetz is just vacationing in Palau but decided to spend most of his time teaching the kids.
Fox said Koshiba and Florencio shared some of their experiences as the country’s top athletes in track and field.
“They also gave anti-drug messages as well as speaking on the importance of strong characters,” Fox said.
Aside from sports games like volleyball, soccer and the like, the kids also learned hip-hop dancing, agility drills, strength exercises like push-up, running, sit-up, gymnastics and fun games.
Through these activities, Fox said the kids were able to develop self-esteem and self worth.
Fox said that after the New Year, she is planning to register the Seeds of Promise as a Non-Government Organization.
Fox said the first camp was held last summer, which was funded by emergency health but this time the kids paid $20 for the three-day camp.
Fox said the kids had been served with lunch and not just plain lunch but healthy foods or nutritious food.
As they say, a healthy mind needs a healthy food.