In Peru, there is a three-month school summer holiday from mid-December to mid-March. During this holiday, SKIP provides a seven-week summer camp for the Primary and Secondary children so that they have an opportunity to continue their education.  We aim to provide a fun, friendly teaching environment that engages and inspires the children to want to learn more about the world around them, while also giving them new experiences and a chance to learn new skills.

The Holiday Club for the Primary and Secondary program had different structures based on the needs of the kids.  The Primary program, which the kids attended daily, was similar to a traditional school timetable, with a clear schedule and daily subjects.  The Secondary program was a series of workshops from which the kids could choose.  Many of the Secondary students work during the summer, so they attended Holiday Club for only one or two activities per week.

With about three times as many volunteers as last year, we were able to provide more support for each child, implement and reinforce rules of social behavior, and give the kids a greater sense of stability and consistency.  We consistently emphasized the importance of attending school and strived to create a sense of continuity in the program.  Our approach resulted with over a 50% increase in the number of kids participating in Holiday Club!

The Primary kids also went to the cinema to watch the movie Astro Boy.  A local cinema donated the movie to SKIP and another donor provided each kid with popcorn and a large soda, which the kids loved!  It also resulted in many trips to the bathroom where the hand dryer was an exiting new thing and a big hit!  After the movie, prizes were given out to kids from each class, based on attendance, good behavior and academic achievement.

The Secondary kids were given the option to choose what they wanted to do for their end of the year party; they selected a trip out where they would be able to listen to music and go swimming.  We organized a trip to a park one-hour away from Trujillo in a beautiful green valley.  The day was spent playing sports, swimming and chatting – like any other teenager – and listening to loud music that played all day long.

Primary School 2009

The summer camp ran Monday through Friday in the mornings and 3 afternoons; and lasted for 7 weeks. Each week had a theme. Topics included: Peru, The World, Food/Nutrition, Fairy Tales, Animals, and Ecology. The final week was primarily for review and a trip to the Zoo.

In our learning methods, we focused on learning activities that emphasized arts, creativity, and participation.

In addition, we integrated reading, writing and mathematics within the themed weeks. Even more, classes added their own elements according to the interest and level of their children. For example, the older kids requested English lessons and one of the younger classes focused on the alphabet. Each classroom was equipped with a box full of supplies and a colorful attendance board.

We had 4 volunteer teachers who were the primary teachers for each class; and for the majority of the time another volunteer assisting each classroom. The mornings were more academic focused activities; whereas the afternoons were recreational activities.

Every morning the children started the day with washing their hands, eating a fruit and listening to a story. Stories included anything from The Big Friendly Giant and Narnia or short stories (in Spanish of course). Then, lessons were taught with activities to reinforce what they have learned. This structure in the mornings fostered learning, development of organizational skills, helping kids to manage their time and responsibilities in a positive environment.

Every two weeks we would have a quiz day where all the children came together and competed in mixed level teams. Questions were based on the information learned in the two weeks prior.

Afternoon activities included Cine Club, poi, origami, bracelet making, painting, basketball, and volleyball. Tutoring was started week 5 in the afternoons In order to get the kids ready to go back to school.

Field trip: to the Zoo

The zoo was a real treat for the children; many of whom have not had the opportunity to go outside of  El Porvenir. This was a great opportunity for the kids to apply what they learned during the “animal” week to what they saw at the zoo.

We ended off the week with an “Open House” inviting all the parents to come meet the teachers and look at all the work their children had accomplished over the 7 weeks.

Secondary school 2009

There was an average of 50 kids registered for this programme in 2009. (Most of the students in secondary work to help their families so they came when they could).

Activities:

• Swimming: about 35 kids; 4 to 6 teachers; Swimming pool of El Porvenir 3 times a week before lunch from 11 am to 1.00 pm.. (Mon, Wednesday and Thursday)

• Surfing, with the cooperation of the Muchik Surf School teachers : once a week in Huanchaco.

• Cine club: Wednesdays, once a week with special themes and debates. (World, cultures, politics, conflicts, social problems etc)

• Art craft: Monday afternoons.

• Orientation and careers: once a week on Friday afternoons with guests (so far : a tourist agent, English teachers, cook and restaurant owner, etc)

• Classes: Twice a week in the morning (Tuesdays and Thursdays) 9.00-11.00 AM, 4 teachers teach 4 classes : Pre-university classes (4-5 grade of secondary), secondary classes for 1-2-3 grades.

Additionally, a field trip was held at the end of the summer: two days camping in Poroto with 30 children on the last weekend in February.