Some of the participants in the GirlsLEAD camp hosted in Barbados by Brescia University College of London, Ontario. Twenty-three girls, ages 10 and 11, were involved in various activities which focused on fun, leadership, self-esteem and self-confidence.
Camp could create more leaders
7/14/2012
By Kerri Gooding
For the third consecutive year, the GirlsLEAD camp orchestrated by Brescia University College in London, Ontario has hosted another successful camp teaching 23 more Barbadian female students to be leaders in all environments.
It was also noted that with greater sponsorship from Corporate Barbados these numbers could grow.
Speaking with The Barbados Advocate, International Programme Coordinator with GirlsLEAD camp, Christina Lorde, said, “Brescia is the only all-female University in Ontario and so the camp shows that we support and promote leadership amongst women, so that they can go out in their world and help to make change.”
This year the 23 female students aging from 10 to 11 were selected from among the top 25 female students who completed the recently held Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination.
Already leaders in academia, through the two-week camp which culminated yesterday, the students developed holistically. They were involved in various activities which focused on fun, leadership, self-esteem and
self-confidence.
When comparing hosting the camp this year to the two previous years, Lorde said, “This year is very, very similar but of course the participants are different every year and they each bring a different dynamic. The girls are always excited, polite and they share about Barbados with those of us who know little about the island.”
GirlsLEAD camp is free for the participants and the camp counsellors operate in a volunteer capacity. It was for these reasons that Lorde said the camp can only grow as large as sponsors and resources allow it to grow.
“With more of Corporate Barbados coming on board there is the likelihood that annually we can see more girls becoming leaders through the GirlsLEAD camp programme,” it was noted.
This year, in addition to hosting the camp in Barbados, GirlsLEAD is hosting eight camps in Canada from July to August and for the first time ever a group of female students from Hong Kong journeyed to Canada to participate in the programme. Barbados is very privileged to have the camp hosted at home annually.
Lorde concluded, saying, “Though the camp will only grow as much as sponsorship grows, I have to extend a big ‘thank you’ to Summit Bank, Trident Insurance, families and some businesses who gave donations and some which gave discounts such as The People’s Market, Laurie Dash and the Toy Shop, because we try always to shop locally.”
