The OASI Foundation, in collaboration with the HSBC Malta Foundation, recently held its annual four-day Summer OASI-HSBC Learning Experience (SOHLE) for children between the age of 10 and 15.

SOHLE is an initiative of the OASI Foundation’s Primary Prevention Team, which incorporates the principle of ‘edutainment’ into all its prevention activities. Programmes usually offer a mixture of educational information and fun games.

For the first time this year, the children had the experience of a farmhouse live-in. During their stay, children benefited from sessions on understanding themselves better by recalling different experiences from their past and how these shaped how they are today. This gave them insight that if they know themselves better they are in a better position to figure out their future and how to influence it, and to work on their goals.

“HSBC Malta Foundation supports participation in such events which generally equip children with better life skills and a deeper understanding of themselves. The OASI Foundation has developed an effective way of furthering a child’s education by mixing learning with pleasure. Investing in children’s self-development helps build a better society and a more harmonious future,” said Paul Curmi, HSBC’s Gozo Area Director on behalf of HSBC Malta Foundation during his visit to the summer camp.

The camp also included an excursion to Comino, a walk in the countryside, an aerobics lesson, an evening by the sea in Marsalforn, various games and swimming in the pool. Other life skills included cooking and cleaning.

“At first, participants were reluctant to help out but as the days went by, they started to enjoy themselves doing what was needed to keep the place in good shape and order. For us leaders, we were also pleased that we managed to instil in the participants the joy of doing the ordinary everyday life chores with a different spirit and attitude,” said Andrea Saliba, Primary Prevention Officer at the OASI Foundation.

“The OASI Foundation believes these summer camps are a golden opportunity for the participants to meet new challenges that in the long term will have a very positive impact on their personality. We, as organisers, are more than satisfied that in just four days the children were driven away from their usual frantic lives and allowed to freely express themselves, and to learn new stuff and have fun – three things that every child needs in order to grow up in a healthy manner.”