Antoinette Ette-Francis (left), a counsellor, gives students lessons in speech and drama at a HOPE summer school camp on Wildman Street in central Kingston Monday. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Despite tribalistic violence plaguing communities in central Kingston, children there are still clinging to a sense of HOPE.

More than 100 children are getting welcome reprieve from the rigours of schoolwork and turf conflicts during a three-week summer camp led by the Project HOPE Foundation.

HOPE (Helping Other People Excel/Endure), an arm of Pente-costal Tabernacle church, is for the first time hosting the summer camp. The day camp, offered free of cost, caters to children aged five to 16 years old who attend the church's Sunday school.

Rival communities

The kids registered for the camp come from Hannah Town, Fletcher's Land, Allman Town and other satellite communities.

Camp director, Nadine Muschette, told The Gleaner that the camp is part of the foundation's initiative to forge a bond between rival communities.

"We want to create an atmosphere where children from some of these war-torn communities in central Kingston can come together, socialise and form friendships," she said.

Muschette added that the counselling sessions for children still suffering from shock as a result of violent crime would help to motivate them and build self-esteem.

Over the three weeks, campers can engage in several recreational activities, including swimming, art and craft, cooking, football and sewing, as well as excursions into the countryside.

On the final day, campers will get the chance to showcase their artistic work and participate in a theatrical production.