Email

Print

These school children have been traveling to and from the Belize Defence Force main headquarters for about a week and a half as they learn about computers, cooking and even football. We spoke to them to find out exactly what they were learning.

Summer Camp Participant
"I was learning about how to use the mouse and keyboard."

Emaun Hyde
"So it was computer you guys were learning?"

Summer Camp Participant
"Yes ma'am."

Emaun Hyde
"Do you think it's going to help you in the future?"

Summer Camp Participant
"Yes ma'am."

Emaun Hyde
"How?" Summer Camp Participant
"Like when you get at high school and when they ask you a few questions about computer, you could answer about that."

Emaun Hyde
"Did you enjoy it?"

Summer Camp Participant
"Yes I really enjoyed it."

Emaun Hyde
"What was your favorite part?"

Summer Camp Participant
"My favorite was using the mouse."

Summer Camp Participant
"I was learning about how you can use the keyboard and what the mouse is all about. I learn about how you can go the internet and surf for pictures."

Emaun Hyde
"Do you think it's going to help you in the future?"

Summer Camp Participant
"Yes."

Emaun Hyde
"How so?"

Summer Camp Participant
"By getting a good job."

Emaun Hyde
"Are you going to teach any of your friends how to use computers?"

Summer Camp Participant
"Yes ma'am."

The organizer told us that this camp wont just help children learn but will be beneficial to them in the long run.

Emaun Hyde
"Do you think that the children that came to the summer camp would be better off than kids who just stay at home playing video games and watching TV all day?"

Ivan Locario, BDF Camp Organizer
"Most definitely because we are not only looking at the two weeks camp or a one month camp, what we did is incorporate our Force councilor Ms. Carry Wong Kay, we brought her in and we have her going in the different camps talking to these kids and we will also try to keep a document so we could send back to these kids throughout the year. She is going around checking on the kids to see who have issues that she could assist with. Some of the kids came here with attitude, we try to develop them morally, show them that we are here and we care for them."

Emaun Hyde
"How does it feel being a part of the summer program? Is it a good feeling? a rewarding feeling?"

Ivan Locario, BDF Camp Organizer
"It is rewarding, it puts a smile upon my face knowing that we can be here for these kids. A lot of time people look at the BDF and think that we are too hardcore and we don't care about other things besides our weapons and going to the jungle, no, it's not about that, we are looking more on this RESTORE Belize issue. If we develop these kids now, how better can our country be."

Emaun Hyde
"And while over at the main headquarters those kids were learning cooking, to play football and music over at the aviation wing these kids were learning how to fly planes."

Adrian Ramirez, BDF Air Wing
"The aviation summer camp is basically two weeks of teaching them basic aviation; what pilots do; what happens in the air; the principles that causes an aircraft to fly; basically some engineering aspects; the basic design and types of engines and some weather."

Emaun Hyde
"How do you think the kids benefit from this?"

Adrian Ramirez, BDF Air Wing
"Well one; it keeps them off the streets and also it open their minds to different aspects out there, especially to the BDF and its enjoyable, they learn a little bit of drill as you can see and it keeps their mind occupied and some discipline."

Emaun Hyde
"Do you think you have a couple of pilots on your hands?"

Adrian Ramirez, BDF Air Wing
"I already have a couple of them that says that they want my job."

The kids from the Aviation Summer Camp told us more about what they were learning.

Aviation Summer Camp Participant
"At the summer camp we were learning about the aircrafts, the different types of engines, the different parts of the plane and basic stuff about ground training before you go into the air."

Emaun Hyde
"Did you have a lot of fun here?"

Aviation Summer Camp Participant
"Yes ma'am, it's really fun here."

Emaun Hyde
"You think you are going to be a pilot when you grow up?"

Aviation Summer Camp Participant
"Well that's what I want to be."

Emaun Hyde
"How do you think knowing information like this will be beneficial to you in the future?"

Aviation Summer Camp Participant
"Say if you want to join the air force or learn about planes."

Emaun Hyde
"Do you think you are going to be a pilot in the future?"

Aviation Summer Camp Participant "Probably."

Reporting for 7 News, I am Emaun Hyde.

The children attending the camp ranged between 8 to 16.