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20 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 8, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 8, 2007 - 21 Children of St.Lucia Continued from page 19 During the week of workshops I was able to visit one of the new schools being introduced to the project by Anderson and volunteer Jean Brown. The students were eager to participate and learn. Excitement filled their faces and it was absolutely amazing to see. Anderson was reading a group of kindergarten students a story called "No Two Snowflakes" which showed them that as no two snowflakes are the same, neither are two children -- each one is special in their own way. She cut out a paper snowflake for the children to see, and as she unfolded the snowflake the looks of shock and bewilderment engulfed their little faces. Again, I was overwhelmed at how such a simple task could bring such enjoyment to the children. I did notice how extremely noisy that school was, though. Some of the teachers were not around either which is important to the project. If the schools want to create a partnership with the learning project, the teachers need to participate. This demonstrated how remarkable Canaries Infant School was and why Anderson wants to make that school a model school for the other teachers and principals to learn from. The students were respectful, orderly and loving. After their prayers and songs every morning, they greeted their classmates and teachers with hugs. I'll never forget the feeling of being hugged by these children. It is such unconditional affection that fills them. Simona mentioned that the children do not receive a lot of hugs at home, so they make sure that they receive plenty of them there. The second week of my stay was also the first week of camp. The children look forward to camp, because they would have nothing else without it. Sandra, the housekeeper who takes care of the volunteers and feeds the campers, said the camp was the best thing that Anderson could have done for the community. The children waved to us and high-fived the volunteers through the car windows every time we drove through the village and down a very steep hill to the base of the camp. The children walk down that hill every morning and back up it every day for the weeks of the camp. The first day the kids came running down the hill filled with excitement for another summer of camp. The majority of the children who attend the camp are at a significantly lower level academically than they should be for their age. Many of the children cannot read or write, but have seen a dramatic improvement since the start of the camp four years ago. Joe, a 10-year old camper, had no letter recognition at all last year. He is now able to read a little bit. The campers are taught social and life skills and responsibility. They are fed two nutritious meals a day and take part in swimming lessons. Mostly, though, they are in a safe, warm caring environment that aims to bring out the true potential of every camper. The children in those communities are not taught to think for themselves, and are very scared at taking risks for fear of making a mistake. They are not exposed to arts and crafts, or any type of self-expression. Slowly, that is beginning to change, especially with the campers that have been returning year after year. By the end of my stay in St. Lucia I became attached to many of the children who attended the camp. My heart went out to Shorna, a six-year-old girl, who was new to camp this year. PHOTOS BY SABRINA BYRNES / OAKVILLE BEAVER LASTING IMAGES: During her two weeks volunteering with the St. Lucia Project, Oakville Beaver photojournalist Sabrina Byrnes developed close relationships with the children of the island. Pictured here are just a few of the children who touched her heart. See Camp page 22