Summertime means plenty of camps and one that we cover every year is the football camp at the St. Martin's Field. And that's because this camp is about more than sports, it's a wholesome effort. Monica Bodden found out more today...
Monica Bodden Reporting:
It is called -the Third World Social Club - a three week camp that caters to more than one hundred underprivileged children from across the city. It's the camp's 12th year and organizer - Deon Flowers- told us how he manages to keep it going.
Deon "Pussy" Flowers - Semi Pro Football Player
"Usually, we have this camp to bring up all the young generation that has nothing to do, keeping them active. And I know that some of the parents are glad to see that. Well we fight, no matter how we go, and we make sure that everybody can come out and have fun. Usually we have football, basketball, volleyball. We have checkers, chest, and dominoes. We have all these things that can be held on this field. If the field has enough space, we have baseball and other kinds of stuff. We want to have this for the kids. I see that the field is very small, but an amount of kids - we make spaces for it. And we don't stop any kids that come to the camp - new faces, any faces from all over, it doesn't matter who or what. We don't tell them that we can hold them in the camp. This camp is for them and they join; it doesn't matter who they are, no matter how full our camp is."
As you can see these children - regardless of their ages - participate is a number of sporting activities.
That is because Flower's say the door to his camp is one that is never closed. Everyone is welcome.
Deon "Pussy" Flowers
"The age group is from 4 to 15. Sometimes we see some young kids show up; we still keep them to see what we can do - like some 3 year-olds. We still work with them and see what we can do with them, because we don't want to send home anybody. Well, this camp is never finished; it stays open night and day. As long as the kids are here, I have to keep an eye on them. This camp always stays open for all the kids, because it is children who I am doing it for."
But despite the positive attempt in trying to keep the youths from off the streets during the summer- the bigger challenge at hand is a financial one -since most of these children come from poverty stricken households.
According to Flowers apart from providing water on a daily basis to over a hundred children, they also look forward to a hot meal.
Deon "Pussy" Flowers
"Right now we are running out of water. The kids just want to play ball. So that's what the kids come out and do: they show up, play football, and play checkers. Sometime they complain that they don't have any water. I kinda bothers me a bit, but at least some people bring some 'dallah or 2 dallahs' water. That's good enough too, because it's just to try to keep the kids off the streets, and I think the parents are glad for that. I think if the parents could get a little certain thing, they would also give to the camp. What we trying to do is to ask for help from all the companies, because most these parents go to Habet, BTL - they give their money. So I would like all the businesses, where the parents give their money to, to give back something to the community. That's all I am begging for. Help out the young generation - everything - this is a positive thing. This thing is for so many years. Though I am fighting it on my own, this will be my 12th year now. I am fighting for this; this is not for us. This is for the kids."
If you want to help with the camp - you can call 607 - 8785.
