UFV UNDERGRADS COMPLETE STINT; WINGS ESTABLISH SPORTING RELATIONS Monday 30th May 2011
Though this week marks the end of another year of the Champions for Health Program - a collaborative effort between the Kinesiology and Physical Education Department at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and the Ministry of Education in Antigua/Barbuda, it also marks the beginning of something big.
Wings & CKHS Basketball Coach Robertine Frederick with Joanna, Chloe and Barbara.
For the past six years, Joanna Sheppard from the Kinesiology and Physical Education Department has accompanied and led undergraduate students from UFV, during the month of May, to the island of Antigua Barbuda, West Indies. These 19 students have been volunteering at elementary schools across the island teaching life skills using physical and health education programs that encompass the three aspects of the "Whole Child Approach" – the physical, affective and cognitive.
One of the cornerstones of this program is to teach the children the life skills that can help them navigate through life‟s many challenges. The skills learned by the students include: communication and interpersonal skills; decision-making and critical thinking skills and; coping and self management skills. Therefore, helping students to learn these skills can steer young people away from substance misuse and increases their ability to build strong and healthy interpersonal relationships.
Wings Youth Football Chairperson, Mrs. Barbara Coates presents shirts to Donna & Chloe at CKHS.
Joanna explains that “This years experience included hands on life skills teaching within the physical and health education classes, participating at the Antigua/Barbuda Teacher's Union Professional Development Day, collaborating with physical education and generalist
teachers on the island through professional workshops presented by myself, creating new collaborations with the Wings Sports Club and the collecting of undergraduate qualitative research based on the importance of physical activity within a integrated curriculum.”
The experience was also enhanced with the successful collaboration between the KPE Team and the UFV Women's Basketball Team. Lead by Head Coach Al Tuchsherer, the team was actively involved in life skill teaching at school basketball clinics and positively promoting the importance of the Champions program through their friendly basketball games against Antiguan womens teams. The girls have had a life changing experience working in the Antiguan elementary schools, conducting several basketball clinics at the YMCA and getting to know the KPE students that are here for the 4 week program.”
Joanna continues, “Our UFV student‟s experiences have been logged through the program‟s blog site that can be found on the Faculty of Science website at ufv.ca, and truly shows the impact that not only the program is having on the students of Antigua but also our undergraduate students. As commented by Erin Mathison “Teaching is challenging, especially in another culture, however observing my students using what I have taught them reminds me why I am here and that I am doing the right thing. It is a privilege seeing first hand that we are making a sustainable impact in a different part of the world.”
The UFV students have been working on “Leaving their Legacy” at their elementary schools they've been volunteering in. These legacies include, painted murals, teaching the importance of keeping our environment clean, the painting of rocks with inspirational life skill statements that can be used around the school, and a new basketball hoop.
The completion of this year's program was highlighted by the last two Unity Games which involved a half day sports day encompassing the important life skills that have been taught throughout the month.
In days of Old
2003 — Ottos Tigress Winners of the 2nd Annual CPTSA Female Football Tournament. Can you identify any of these former members?
Ottos Tigress with a new crop of players are presently near the bottom of the table in the Antigua/Barbuda Football Association (six teams) Female Division, winning only 2 games. Click here for all News and Specials for Sports, Trade, Industry and Commerce & Culture
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