VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP 2021

As part of the Garifuna cultural retrieval and preservation initiative, The Battle of the Drums Secretariat of Punta Gorda, Belize hosted its 11th annual Summer Camp during the week of August 2nd to 6th 2021. The summer camp immersed the participants in the Garifuna culture as various aspects of the culture were shared with the participants; including, Garifuna Language, Garifuna History, Garifuna implements and cooking, and Garifuna music and dance. The participants were also treated to a virtual tour of Barranco’s House of Culture and Sabal’s Cassava Factory.

The Battle of the Drums 2021 summer camp was very different from previous years. It was done virtually using online platforms. However, this afforded the unique opportunity to engage a wide cross-section of participants from various geographic locations. As a result, we had participants from as far away as Alaska and California in the United States as well as from various villages, towns, and cities in Belize.  

The Summer Camp targeted children and youths between the ages of 5 to 15 years old and was held under the theme, Our Family and Home, with Grace” “Waban Hama Familia, Lau Inebesei”. The Camp was executed by Camp Coordinator, Mrs. Josephine Terry, Co-Coordinators, Dr. Carmen Lopez-Avila and Mrs. Martina Alvarez, Technical Coordinators, Mrs. Alexia Flores, Mr. Kyle Zuniga & Ms. Leticia Castro, and Producer, Darius Avila.

Camp sponsors are Love FM/TV, Wil Maheia and PGTV, Rob and Lilia Gutowski, Dr. Rita Enriquez and Lan Barangu Luba Garifunaduou and Cyril Sabal and Sabal’s Cassava Factory, and The Battle of the Drums.