JKPL to offer cultural, sports programs via ‘Project CLAP’

Registration is ongoing for the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Cultural and Sports Literacy After-School Programs or Project CLAP.

A pilot cultural and health literacy outreach program, Project CLAP is a collaboration between JKPL and the Chamolinian Cultural Village, Inc. and is funded by the Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant under Project Brabu of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.

Executive director John O. Gonzales of JKPL, the Commonwealth’s public library, said that Project CLAP includes various cultural and sports classes and programs that are open to both youth and adults.

These include T-ball for children 8 years old and below; baseball for ages 9 and up; basketball for ages 9 and up; family Zumba/aerobics; mamfug/faifai or weaving; beads; mwaar; ukulele; Finu’Chamorru; Kapasaal Refaluwasch; traditional Chamorru dance; and traditional Refaluwasch dance.

Programs will begin July 2 and end Sept. 29, from 8am to noon, with cultural classes to be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while sports programs are scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Registration for all programs is free and ongoing at the library and selected schools-Tanapag, Kagman, Koblerville, Gregorio T. Camacho, and San Antonio elementary schools, and at Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School.

The programs, Gonzales said, will be held at “remote satellite communities” at GTC and Tanapag elementary schools in the north, San Antonio and Koblerville elementary schools and the Koblerville Youth Center in the south; and the Kagman Elementary School, Kagman Community Center, Kagman 2 open sports field, and the Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School in the east.

He explained that the target sites were selected to offer convenience and ease of access.

“JKPL is grateful to [the Public School System] for offering its target school sites to provide these valuable and timely cultural and sports outreach after-school programs to our target population of children, youth, and accompanying parents/guardians to learn both indigenous cultural arts and crafts and develop a culture of health and fitness through sports activities,” he added.

Deadline for registration is on June 27.

Gonzales noted that the various programs will be ascertained based on the number of registered participants.

“If there is not enough registrants or participants, some programs will be cancelled and the corresponding federal grant funds will be returned. So we encourage families to register immediately,” he added.

The cultural and sports programs that will proceed and those that will depend on registration data will be finalized at a meeting tomorrow, June 26, 5pm at JKPL in Susupe. Orientation for selected instructors will be on Thursday, June 28 at 3pm also at the state library.

For more information, call JKPL at 235-READ (7323) or 7315.