Building relationships, gaining confidence, and being humbled are just a few of the experiences had by a group of UFV students on a recent trip to Antigua with the Champions for Health Promoting Schools program.

In its seventh year, the project also reached new heights — from being commended by the Antiguan minister of education, to being interviewed on the local radio station, and creating a new exchange opportunity.

For the month of May, the Kinesiology students were working in schools across the Caribbean island, along with hosting the Unity Games — an event similar to a Canadian sport day. The focus of the trip was teaching life skills, such as teamwork and listening, through lessons and games.

Overall, the trip was a success, said Joanna Sheppard, a UFV instructor and creator of the Champions for Health program.

Not only did the Antiguan students benefits from the experience through personal growth  — from learning to share, and showing compassion to one another — but the UFV students did, too.

“They became more confident in themselves,” said Sheppard. “And they’ve realized they are part of a bigger world — that teaching can not only impact the Fraser Valley, and Canada, but also across the world.”

Twenty-three-year-old Alison Bricco of Abbotsford can attest to that. Remembering how she felt during her first week in Antigua, she was unsure of her abilities. But as time progressed, she felt like she was “coming out of her shell.”

“I started becoming more comfortable with my teaching abilities, and the interaction with the kids started to come so naturally,” said Bricco. “My expectation was that we would go to Antigua to help the kids and their teachers. I didn’t realize how big of an impact it would have on me overall.”

In addition to having breakthroughs with the students, the program itself also advanced with stronger collaboration efforts around the island.

Sheppard credits the progression to the strength and leadership of her students, which enabled her to push them professionally to teach more difficult concepts.

“We were able to demonstrate on a strong level what our UFV students are capable of, and what we can make happen on the island for years to come,” said Sheppard.

Volunteering at the local track and field meet, and the local tennis club helped the program connect with the community, as did adding two new schools.

Having a celebration dinner with the local teachers, speaking on the radio and TV about the program, and being invited to be a part of the Antiguan Community of Practices Organization (which looks at the best practices of teachers), are other major accomplishments of this year.

In addition, the program was honoured by the Antiguan minister of education.

The future of the program will see a teacher exchange, with four Antiguan teachers visiting UFV in April 2013 for the first time. Sheppard will also be working on a research project with the Antiguan ministry of education, in conjunction with the UNICEF Child Friendly Schools Initiative, run through the United Nations.

Leticia Frederickson outside of Buckleys Primary School in Antigua.

In three years of visiting Antigua with the Champions for Health Promoting Schools program, UFV student Leticia Frederickson has seen a change in both the young students on the island and herself.

The Chilliwack resident is currently in the Caribbean with a group of kinesiology students for the month of May. There, the group of 18 is teaching life skills through classroom lessons and outdoor physical activities.

Since first taking part in the program, Frederickson has watched the young children retain the information they’ve been taught — from giving the teachers high fives to providing them with their personal space.

“Overall you can see some students being better citizens in their community which is very exciting,” said Frederickson, who is graduating from the general studies program this summer, and will be entering UFV’s Teacher Education Program.

Not only has she seen the children grow and mature, but she’s noticed a change in herself since first visiting Antigua.

The first year, Frederickson took part in the Champions for Health program as a student. For the past two years, she has returned as a teacher’s assistant to work with kinesiology instructor Joanna Sheppard, the creator of Champions for Health.

“The first year was a big decision to come because it was pushing me out of my comfort zone,” said Frederickson. “And the second year I grew as a person because I was more invested in my role. I got to know everybody and their teaching styles, and learned through them as partners in the program.”

Now, in her third year, Frederickson has experienced new developments.

“It has reinforced the passion that I have to learn from and work with children,” she said. “I’ve always known I wanted to teach, but this has given me the confidence I needed.”

Being thrown into a new environment is a swift learning curve for the UFV students. While on the island, they are paired into teams of two and assigned their own schools where they teach four 45-minute classes a day.

On Fridays, the group hosts an event called the Unity Games, which is similar to a Canadian sports day. The UFV students set up stations that promote different life skills, such as team work and listening. With one event in the morning and another in the afternoon, the UFV students work with more than 1,800 Antiguan students during their trip.

“The experience gives you that extra boost you need to prove that you can do it — because you’re put in situations you don’t think you can thrive in,” said Frederickson. “This program challenges you in different ways — as a person, teammate and a teacher.  I think that’s one of the most rewarding aspects.”

Antigua's minister of education Jacqui Quinn-Leandro with UFV student Ashley Maynes.

The Champions for Health Promoting Schools program was honoured by the minister of education this week in Antigua.

Kinesiology instructor Joanna Sheppard and student Ashley Maynes visited the office of minister Jacqui Quinn-Leandro on Wednesday morning.

The pair was invited to speak about the Champions for Health program, which was created by Sheppard.

In its seventh year, the program sees Canadian students volunteer on the island for the month of May, working with young kids in both the classroom and outdoors. The goal is teaching life skills, such as team work, decision making, and listening.

Quinn-Leandro is very supportive of the program, and shared with Sheppard and Maynes that she is excited to have the UFV students working alongside the Antiguan teachers.

“As long as I stay in office, your students will always be welcomed here on the island,” said Quinn-Leandro.

The minister also discussed how wonderful it is to have this collaboration between Canada and Antigua, adding that it compliments the Child Friendly Schools Initiative program that is currently launching on the island through the United Nations.

Education minister Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, UFV student Ashley Maynes, and creator of the Champions for Health Promoting schools program, Joanna Sheppard.

“Jackie has seen us in action, and told us that it brings a smile to her face to know that we’re working so hard,” said Sheppard after the meeting. “It’s exciting to know how much of an impact the students of UFV have had on the island of Antigua.”

During their 15-minute meeting, they talked about what the UFV students have been doing on the island for the past two weeks – such as hosting their first Unity Games. The event is similar to a Canadian sports day and teaches children life skills through different activities.

“It’s been so nice working with such passionate students, and having such in depth answers to our life skills questioning,” said Maynes about her experience working in the schools.

In their conversation, they also discussed the possibilities of Sheppard and her program working with the ministry in the field of research and evaluation.

Overall, the experience was a rewarding one.

“It’s excellent to have such a strong role model and leader in another country that is providing strong support for our program – a program that can be happening world-wide,” said Sheppard. “And it’s great to know that educators are educators all around the world, and simply want what’s best for their children.”

In acknowledgement of the Champions for Health program, Quinn-Leandro will be presenting all of this year’s students with a certificate of appreciation at the end of their trip.

Nicole Parke of Mission is this year's Unity Games co-ordinator.

Following an early morning tropical rainstorm over the Caribbean island of Antigua, the sun eventually came out on Friday afternoon, helping a group of UFV students host a successful Unity Games.

Students at the Five Islands Primary School during Friday's Unity Games.

 

The event is described as a Canadian sports day with a twist, by UFV Kinesiology instructor Joanna Sheppard.

This is Sheppard’s seventh year hosting the Unity Games on the island with her program called Champions for Health Promoting Schools. The program sees Canadian students volunteer on the island for the month of May, working with young kids in both the classroom and outdoors.

Friday’s Unity Games was the first event for this year’s UFV students. Between their six stations, the students were promoting physical activity and life skills such as team work, problem solving, and decision making.

Taking place at Five Island Primary School, the games were spread across the school grounds. Between the long grass and the ant hills, students utilized donated equipment such as bean bags, skipping ropes and tennis balls to keep the young kids active and interested.

Lacey Christink of Aldergrove/Langley leads a group during Friday's Unity Games.

“The benefits of the unity games for our students is a real chance to think on their feet,” said Nicole Parke of Mission, who is this year’s Unity Games co-ordinator. “For their students, each station focuses on a different life skill concept, so it’s really a culmination of everything we’re doing down here.”

At the end of each activity, the UFV students hold something called CCR: check, connect and reflect.

CCR is extremely important for the young students in the learning process, said Parke.

“It really connects the life skill concept they just learned in the game. It pulls it through for them and helps them make that mental understanding happen.”

This is Parke’s second year as part of the Champions for Health Program. Since taking part in the first year, she’s learned how to think on her feet and modify games to individual students and small groups.

According to Sheppard, modification is one of the most important skills the UFV students are learning, as they are working with approximately 300 students in each event.

Graeme Dick of Abbotsford leads a group during Friday's Unity Games.

“It gives UFV students the time to work on their management skills, and realize — this is real life,” said Sheppard. “They are going to have that amount of students in a school experience.”

Overall, Sheppard described the Unity Games as a “very eye widening experience” for the UFV students. However, it’s vital for the group to get together after each event to talk about their experiences.

“I get them to go through their feelings because I want them to realize not everything is going to be perfect all the time — but with teaching you learn and grow through it,” said Sheppard. “So from the first Unity Games to the last, it progressively gets easier for the students.”

During their stay, the UFV group will work with more than 1,800 kids, as the Unity Games is held each Friday during separate morning and afternoon sessions.

For more photos of what Five Islands Primary Schools looks like, click here: http://goo.gl/uofe2

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The scene at Friday's Unity Games at Five Islands Primary School in Antigua.