SCORES of youths from the Mocha Arcadia community on the East Bank Demerara, on Monday received certificates and prizes for successfully completing a five-week literacy summer camp, which was launched in July for pupils of Grades three to five.
The closing ceremony was held at the Mocha-Arcadia Primary School and featured remarks from prominent leaders in Guyana.

The camp included interactive academic activities such as phonics, spelling, reading and reasoning, vocabulary, arts and crafts and sports.
One of the many speakers present at the closing ceremony was Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag. The minister pointed out that this summer camp offered a little more than the average camp would.
She said: “And that is the idea. The idea is to start this camp, but continue it next year in a bigger way, in a better way, in a more comprehensive way where we can have more programmes involved, where we can see where this camp, maybe where we had the weaknesses, and how we can strengthen that next year.”

More than that, the minister highlighted that this was an environment for the students to not only learn, bond and make friendships, but to gain confidence and much more.
According to Minister Parag, this was all to help the youths to get to a point where their reading skills will be improved as they move through their primary school journey.

Meanwhile, city councillor and former national cricketer, Steven Jacobs in his remarks advised the pupils to ensure that they remember what was taught and put it into practice. He said it’s important to not take for granted what they were able to achieve over the five-week period.
Jacobs stated firmly: “I think it’s important that you make sure that you remember everything that was taught, and make sure that when you head out back to school in September, you put it into practice, because at this tender age, these lifelong lessons that you learn overtime, is needed.
He continued, “I know that school is just around the corner, but I want to advise you to make sure that you take this time in, reflect on what you learned over the last five weeks, and make sure that when school is ready to be open, you’re ready with the knowledge and skills, to have better grades going forward,”

Jacobs related that this is what is desired for the children of Guyana; for them to be well educated and for them to be empowered so they can take up leadership positions in the future.
Director of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), Professor Dr. Jacob Opadeyi, also delivered encouraging words to the pupils.

Dr. Opadeyi emphasised that they must know the answers to five important questions: what, where, when, who, and how. He noted that these are the questions which will help to foster critical thinking.
Stiffany Nelson-Moore, a Mocha Arcadia councillor briefly stated they have seen improvements in each of the pupils who would have attended the camp. She urged parents to invest in the education of their child or children and to work with them in the coming weeks to ensure that what they would have learnt at the summer literacy camp doesn’t end there.
Additionally, some 14 laptops were distributed to both teachers and pupils. These were sponsored by the GOAL, and Clinton Urling and family.