Last week, the summer camp for Koror site was held in NgaraChamayong Cultural Center. One hundred thirty children recruited from Babeldaob and South West areas all stayed at the cultural center for five days, doing health-related activities and learning traditional values in a fun and interactive venue.
“The purpose of this camp is to provide a fun learning environment using traditional and conventional methods of learning to promote and raise awareness on health issues, with an underlying foundation of epitomizing a child — to be a child for the next five days, to learn how to be a better citizen and healthier person living in Palau,” explained Pearl Marumoto, Administrator of Emergency Health Program.
Among the lessons lined up for the children were hazards of tobacco and alcohol use, communicable diseases, obesity, nutrition, oral health, environmental protection, cancer, and the importance of hand washing and adolescent health, among others.
Other activities included arts and crafts, drawing, singing, dancing, photography, storytelling, movie watching, drama, chesols, ngloik, omengaus, omengerekung, omeuul kall, hikes/environmental protection, historical field trips, games and sports.
“One of the underlying foundations is to build a resilient community through this concept of learning,” shared Marumoto.
In 2006 and 2007, the camps focused primarily on emergency preparedness and injury intervention. In 2008, the program expanded to various areas and topics not only in health but also of other life skills and values in an island community.
“This is the fourth year that MOH has been holding this summer camp,” said Marumoto. “But last year got cancelled because of the outbreak of H1N1.”
Since the summer camp originated from the office of Emergency Health, Marumoto said managing the 160 campers and 30 counselors is easy.
“It’s logistical. We apply the Emergency Health Preparedness program to manage the camp,” said Marumoto.
A nurse was also at the camp site at all times.
On Saturday, on Parents Day, the kids got to show off to their parents what they learned during their five-day stay at the summer camp. They cooked traditional foods for their parents, presented dance and chants and showed them how they feel about them through T-shirts that they printed with arts and colorful expressions.
For this week, starting today until Saturday, it will be the kids recruited from Koror and Airai’s turn to spend five days at summer camp in Peleliu Elementary School. The same activities are lined up for them.
Both summer camps are organized by the MOH and Governors Association, in partnership with Rubukel and Mechesil Belau.
