library time

      While we were at Holy Cross Joel and I were asked to help straighten up the library. The well used library had started to become dishevelled and needed attention.
We each picked our row and started the process of re-aligning the books, and putting misplaced books in their correct location. Volunteers and tourists donate books to the Holy Cross school library, and it's filled with lots of previously read books from families, and libraries. There will be markings on the inside cover with someone's name, or occasional notes left by the previous owner. The books that we buy our kids at the school book fairs, or put in their stocking for christmas. There are young children's character stories: Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street counting book, Disney books. There are the books for older children: series like the Magic Tree House books, or the ever poplar, even with boys in Belize, Captain Underpants!

     The non-fiction area has books on countries and customs, weather, ocean life, and other sciences. I was surprised to see one of the weakest areas of the non fiction section was Belizean culture and history. I tried to remember my own libraries growing up, and felt certain Canadian history and culture would have been an important section. Although this wouldn't be anyones first choice for a weekend read, it is important for classroom work on the subject.
The library will need to expand this section on Belize culture, and history, as well as science books that focus on the human body, and plant life. The library is passed it's initial growth stage, and maybe now there will be time for more specific requests from those going for a visit.

KP Duty
Joel and I were on kitchen duty one day this week. Holy Cross school has a lunch program that feeds the 440 students, the staff, and various volunteers who may be working at the school on that day.
The feeding program was started in response to the need to feed the children so they were able to be more productive during the school day. The kitchen is staffed with ladies who are associated with the school community.
 As we worked alongside the ladies they discussed their lives and asked questions about ours. They wake early to care for their families, providing breakfast, packing lunches, making sure everyones up and ready to start the day. They are often at the school by 7:00am to start prepping for lunch. The dishes that have dried overnight are ready to be re-stacked, and the cooking begins. The classes start coming at 11:30, and there is a steady stream of food to dish out until 12:30. Then the clean up begins. Plates scraped, dishes, glasses and cutlery piled. Some students will stay behind, given the task of wiping the tables and sweeping the floor.From my experience the task is given to those students who displayed a little too much energy during lunch.


Joel and I were rinsing and stacking, as we listened to the ladies. They seemed somewhat amused that some of them could sit longer as we washed. They kept asking if we were sure that was okay. They were also somewhat amused to have Joel in their midst.Although they are exposed to volunteer teams helping in their kitchen, a teenaged male seems to still be a novelty.We now understand to a small extent what feeding and cleaning for 440 students feels like.

Beads

The students at Holy Cross have been introduced to the craft of beading. They can make a bracelet which they give to the school office, and in turn can earn money towards their modest tuition fees. The beaded bracelets are sold at the school office to tourists, volunteer teams, etc.

Part of the beading challenge is to have enough beading supplies pre packaged so the students can easily begin in the classroom or possibly take a packet home, to produce a bracelet .
Joel and I were given the task of sorting beads, then packaging them into small kits. There were a lot of beads; multiple colours, sizes, textures. We figured out some interesting, all be it simple designs, and started the process of bagging the beads.
 It was a pleasant job, as we were in the sewing centre where you get a little breeze from the fan. We listened to the sewing ladies chat, and occasionally engaged in the discussion. The moms who work in the sewing centre have learned to sew as a way of providing for their children to go to school at Holy Cross.
As the various ages of children were released for the day, they would check in with their moms, hang around, asks for snacks and play with their friends in the sewing centre. Sometimes they would be aware of Joel and I and watch what we were doing. For a short time they became fascinated with sorting the bags into what they felt were appropriate boy/girl colours. Mostly they were more interested in playing. The sewing centre, and connecting breezeway held an infinite number of  imaginative games and make-believe scenarios. The sounds around us breathed life  into what could have been a monotonous task.

I'm back at Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. I am fortunate to be traveling with my other son, Joel.
We landed in Belize City on Sunday morning, and after we traversed through customs and immigration, we boarded our 12 seat Cessna Tropic Air flight for the always interesting 15 minute flight to the island of Ambergris Caye. Once there we found our way to our condo and settled in for our week in San Pedro and our volunteer time at Holy Cross School.
We walked through the gates of Holy Cross on Monday morning and I immediately felt comfortable. I loved seeing the familiar faces, and hearing the familiar sounds. It was so encouraging to see the changes that have taken place during the 16 months that I've been away. The sewing centre is now going full force, the ladies are becoming amazing seamstresses. The donations for quality fabric have been coming in, and they have some really cool products that they're turing out.

They have started to make dolls that are sold at the school. Each doll is unique and can reflect the students, or can be custom made as a gift for someone. They are filled with rice and beans, and on the outside tag is the ladies' recipe for rice and beans.( deliciousness!). Joel and I had the opportunity to work alongside the ladies from the sewing centre, for  most of the day on Monday. I really enjoyed hearing them chat about life, sometimes laughing, sometimes encouraging each other. Sharing the problems and joys of being mothers. It was a great way to feel welcomed back to this lovely place.

Lessons learned

He who opens a school door, closes a prison-Victor Hugo

We're finally home after a very long day and night of travel. I'm still trying to process all that we've learned, and experienced while visiting Holy Cross Anglican School.

The education system in Belize is very different from in Canada. The Ministry of Education requires that children in Belize go to school until standard 8, which is roughly the same as our 8th grade.In reality only 1 in 4 will stay in school until standard 8. The governement also has a resposiblility to provide wages for teachers in a school. The government doesn't provide resources, uniforms,equipment,books, exam fees etc....Some of the money needed for these things are provided for through student fees,and church and community donations.

Holy Cross Anglican School was built because the children in the area of San Mateo were not attending any school, or may have been asked to leave the school they were attending. The government gave the school's founders Vernon and Francis Wilson a piece of the lagoon, 8 1/2 acres, to build a school on. Piece by piece the school has been built, and now is bursting at the seams with 500+ students.

These children were born into the cycle of poverty, abuse, and neglect.Many of the family units are not necessarily healthy ones.

These children were not attending school, and definetly had no hope of finishing primary school.

To these children, going beyond standard 8 to high school, was impossible, not even a dream.

I've learned that because two people cared enough to start a school, a community has the tools to change. I've learned that there are very devoted individuals who continue to commit so much of their lives to the betterment of this school community.

I've learned that regardless of what skill, or perceived lack of skills, that you think you have, you would be surprised at how useful it can be to a school.

Zack and I have learned so much during our time spent in Belize. I will be starting to develop a plan for how I can best support the school while living here. I'll also be returning to the school, as soon as I'm able. (love to have some company! )

I look forward to sharing updates on Holy Cross Anglican School

The best Laid plans

Hurricane Rina was fortunately not all she was cracked up to be. Thursday morning brought blue skies, and calm, clear water again. In spite of there being no tropical storm to speak of, school was still closed. The residents of San Mateo had been evacuated as the homes in that community were at risk. They are mainly constructed from scraps of plywood, and sit on stilts over the lagoon. Most of the students at Holy Cross live in San Mateo, and were not back from the mainland yet. Many teachers were also absent, as they too took advantage of the government's evacuation to the mainland.

Friday brought more blue sky, more calm clear water, and heat. Wow. We're talking about having to change your t-shirt multiple times throughout the day out of necessity heat ! We arrived at school happy to find the doors open, and the chatter of the children again. There were still many students and teachers absent, so the day had to be put togther as best as possible.

Zack and I again returned to the student /teacher resource room, dreading the dust and no air. The lights were out. Off we went to find Mr Freddie , or Mr. Jason the maintenance men. The lights were discussed and fussed over, and finally the light in the resource room was working.We reaquainted ourselves with the system we had planned, when, the lights went out again. We made our way through the dark library, through the semi dark computer lab, towards the exit door to the outside. As we did so, we both heard the word fire(in a relaxed kind of way) and quickened our step.

Yes ,there were some sparks going off at the transmitter. The resource room, would be in the dark for the morning, or day , and therefore need to remain closed. We were ready for shirt change number one after our ten minutes in there, so we weren't too sad.

Zack spent his time helping Mr. Freddie and Mr. Jason clean out the sewing room, as that's where many outdoor supplies were kept during the hurricane scare, and I helped the sewing volunteers start to put their room back together. As I did so we chatted, about sewing, kids, the difference between girls and boys, normal mom stuff. Zack and Jason talked about life and work, and the difference between each country's system.We read again, to Infant 1, and when we were short on books, we told tales about our very naughty dog named Jasper

We walked home with a little guy from the Infant 1 class that we had read too. He told us about the large fish he had caught. His dad had caught lots more, but he assured us that his was really, really big

We planned to work all week, that didn't work out so well. We planned to organize a resource room.... not so much. We didn't plan to talk to the sewing volunteers, or Mr Jason, to read to Infant 1 again,and walk home in the heat with a 5 year old and discuss fishing. Somehow, we are the ones that are better for it.

Snow Day

Zack and I arrived at Holy Cross Tuesday morning ready, and determined to make sense of the student/teacher resource"room". We were greeted with an empty school yard, and boards on the windows.

We had heard rumours of a hurricane in the Atlantic, but weren't too concerned;it didn't appear to be headed our way. After seeing the school was closed we thought maybe, just maybe, we're wrong.Well this new bit of info brought on a day filled with ups and downs as we watched the internet, and stayed in close contact with the hotel staff. The last flight out left at noon today and after much deliberation, and signing away the hotels legal responsibility, we buckled in and started to prepare.

We bought our supplies, flashlights, candles, basic groceries, and kept updating with the other guests at the hotel. We watched the horizon, which did look pretty bleak, and we took walks around town, watching as the locals prepared for what could have been a very life altering few days.

Throughout the day the storm has lost it's intensity, and seems to be heading away from us. This afernoon the town seemed to relax just a little. The kids are playing in the water, trying to body surf on the random waves that are washing up. The parents stand in groups and watch, laughing when some unsuspecting person strolls by and gets caught by a wave. The piers are crowded with local fishermen, taking advantage of the surge of water, and the time off to fish.

It's a snow day here in San Pedro, and thankfully that's all I will remember it as.