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Camp DEFY Educates Kids on Perils of Drugs and Violence

Camp counselor Randy Holzapple noted the importance of reaching out to kids "at a younger age."A slew of activities, including a day at the beach, flag-making and a visit to Annaberg Plantation are on the agenda for 33 youths attending the Police Department’s Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) summer camp at the V.I. Environmental Resource Station on St. John.
“I’m having fun,” nine-year-old Denisha Huggins of St. Thomas said.
Okeya Pierrelouis, 13, of St. Thomas, had even stronger words.
“Awesome,” was how she described how her camp experience.
Kaliah Stanley, 10 of St. Croix, said she thought going to the beach was lots of fun, but she also liked the movies.
And Faith Percival, 10, of St. Thomas said the food was good.
The youths, ages nine through 12, all from St. Thomas and St. Croix, arrived Sunday and will leave Friday.
Many of the youths are at risk, and the Police Department hopes this family-oriented program will keep them out of trouble.
Karim Roberts, 18, of St. Thomas is a success story. He attended the DEFY camp as a participant in 2003 and later returned to serve as a junior mentor.
According to Roberts, the DEFY program was a big help in keeping him on the right path.
“It’s good to start from a young age to prevent them from going to prison or being dead,” he said, speaking about the waves of youthful violence now plaguing the territory.
Roberts has big plans for himself. He said he’d like to serve in the Legislature, but his other goal is to be police chief in the St. Thomas/St. John District.
Christina Frederick, 15, is another DEFY graduate. She returned as a junior mentor to help the younger students learn about peer pressure and the pitfalls of drugs. When she’s finished with school, she wants to be a lawyer.
While the junior mentors were busy helping the youths with their flag project, the adults involved with the program had plenty to say.
St. Croix resident Earl Andrews took vacation time from his job as a Superior Court probation officer to help with the program.
“I try to make a difference and keep them from coming into the system,” he said.
St. Croix Educational Complex teacher Randy Holzapple was ready to lend a hand to help the youths.
“You have to get them at a younger age,” he said.
Lisa Shearman of St. Croix said this was her first time assisting at the camp.
“I’m learning a lot,” she said.
Master Sgt. Stephen Charles of the V.I. National Guard serves as camp director for the program. He was busy organizing the flag-making project, but took time to talk about how it was good for youths from St. Thomas and St. Croix to get to know each other.
“We have a separation between St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John,” he said.
Police Officer Edith Stevens of St. Croix is a one-woman cheerleader for the DEFY program and the youths who participate.
“We have excellent students. We need to let everyone know what riches we have in these kids,” she said.
Ronald Hatcher, the VIPD’s territorial director for crime prevention, also had good words.
“I’m so proud of them, and they’re so well-mannered,” he said as he watched the youths at their flag-making project.
The program is funded by the department’s Weed and Seed Program. Program partners also include The National Guard, the V.I. Housing Authority and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Project Safe Neighborhood program.

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