Development Bank partners with Mt. Carmel Baptist Church’s Camp Ezekiel

Ms Danienne Brin, Development Bank’s Executive Assistant (right) presents the sponsorship cheque for Camp Ezekiel’s banquet to Ms Esmie Clarke, the camp’s Vice President.

Basseterre St. Kitts (April 2, 2012) — Responding to a request by the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis has agreed to partner with the annual Camp Ezekiel to host a banquet for the camp’s participants on Saturday April 7. The camp is held over the Easter weekend.

“The youth today represents tomorrow’s leaders and the Development Bank supports every initiative that prepares the youth for their future roles,” said Ms Danienne Brin, executive assistant to the bank’s General Manager Mr Lenworth Harris, as she presented the sponsorship cheque to Camp Ezekiel’s Vice President Ms Esmie Clarke on Tuesday March 27.

“Camp Ezekiel will provide the perfect treat for youths during this coming Easter season as it has done in the past,” observed Ms Brin. “The Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, which promotes the Federation’s human resource development through its Student Loans Programme, fully subscribes to the ideals of Camp Ezekiel and especially its theme this year.”

The annual camp, which is into its sixth year is being hosted by the Mt. Carmel Baptist Training Union, and will be held on the church grounds from April 5-9under the theme ‘Restoring Moral Values’. While it catered for 150 children last year an equal number is anticipated for this year.

According to the Camp Coordinator, Mrs Malvis James, objectives of the camp are to support national efforts at curbing crime and violence and instill strong Christian values among the youths of the Federation and to restore self-confidence, respect, manners, conflict solving skills, love for one another and strong discipline.

Camp Ezekiel’s Vice President Ms Esmie Clarke, who thanked the Development Bank for responding positively to their request, informed Ms Brin that the children will report to the camp on Holy Thursday (April 5), where they will remain until Easter Monday when they will be released to return to their respective homes.

The camp is open to children three years and up to early twenties from all denominations. According to Ms Clarke, the main criterion for acceptance to the camp is that they must be Sunday school attendees, and church goers for the older one. Activities to keep them busy will include talks from various speakers, a banquet on Saturday and a walk from Lodge Project to Molineux on Monday.

“We are trying to make them well rounded individuals,” observed Ms Clarke. “Right now I am starting a choir just for boys. We are looking at various ways of motivating them and as a result we won’t be singing all the time. We will have them go to visit the hospitals, visit the elderly, help others, and go out in the communities and try to cleanup and that kind of stuff.”