Food shortage

When it comes to the MH community, food was hard to come by for many families. Many children would come to camp with empty stomachs. There was a sponsor for the camp who was going to provide money, but it never came through in time. 

Mrs.Ravel was so resourceful and amazing with getting snacks. She worked out a borrow back system for the  chips with the local market and we bought a juice concentrate to mix.  Some days we would look at each other like, " What are we going to do tomorrow?" 

One day we had no snacks and it was depressing seeing the kids facial expression when I said, "Sorry dear not today."

As far as my contribution, I worked on Monkey bay a bit each day. At first. There was watermelon and bananas offered. When I asked again, I got a different answer. Also, I had asked the founder and he needed to know a week in advance. With all the food we cook, I asked if there were any leftovers I could bring. I ended up getting a big lecture on where the food goes and the kitchen budget. 

Anything I requested was coming from good intention and MB knew this fact.  Whether it be apple sauce, fruit, or Plantain chips. I just wanted them to have something each day and I know MB had it, but it was a struggle trying to get it.
It was difficult trying to prove how high the needs actually were and how something so little could provide so much.  They had the belief that Mrs. Ravel was over there making requests, but she never once asked me to request or bring food.  She always made the best of what they already had and I loved her for that.  

It's a shame having that belief that the MH community is always "asking for money." The belief that "money" will just solve the problem is completely false.  While they do need food to meet their basic needs, they truly need education, religion,  acknowledgement to their being, and a cultural exchange.  

Money can only go so far, but contribution towards a human's existence means the world. PRIS

Believe in Me Summer Camp

When you work with children, you gain experience each and every time.  You know what exercises and activities are a hit and when students can handle a challenge. It was my mission to make sure everyone was participating and at least putting in some effort.  Kids were often seeking my praise, which increased their motivation and interest in learning.   

Overall, the camp was quite successful with the kids and the community.  Local parents, teachers, the pastor, and others responded very well to my work and dedication to the community.  Each day things were hectic and some days were better than others, but with teamwork we achieved our goal. 

With the help of a few parents and And it was the amazing commitment from Mrs. Ravel, which made things come together with short notice.  

There was plenty to do in the daytime between the 50 to 100 students in attendance, meetings with parents, and community outreach.  It was my responsibility to plan all the activities and it was Mrs. Ravel's responsibility to get the kids to show up.  This required going around the community and reminding everyone of the camp.  Each morning we started with a song followed by aerobics. The activities following involved therapeutic and psycho-educational verbal exercises and games. It required some serious creativity tailoring exercises for the age 4 to 13 age group.






We planned to split them up, but the volunteers partially showed up.  And with our limited resources, we had to limit the materials we used.  I did go to the store with Mrs. Ravel to purchase a few things, but supplies in Belize are limited and super expensive.  There are only a couple stores that sell arts and crafts and they sell $7 crayons-it's ridiculous. How do these poor people afford anything.

When we walked in, I was like, "Um this is it?" 

She said, "Yes, welcome to Belize."

 "Um, isn't there just a dollar store or some discount store?" 

"This is it." 

With that said, I bought a beach ball and some other fun and easy activities with balloons. I was advised to not purchase anything, but I went against the hierarchy.  I had been advised to not purchase anything for the program-not one thing. 

With this community, the kids were very respectful saying, "No Maam" and "Yes Maam." When it came to me assigning leaders to tasks or asking for helpers, they could not have been more eager. When activities were starting and ending, there were always kids cleaning up-sweeping the floor, pushing in chairs, and picking up papers.  From their upbringing, they help out at home and are taught to respect their teachers and adults.  



As far as the older kids, ages 8 to 12, they were open to discuss their feelings and share their experiences.  I always have this close connection with boys and these group of 6 to 8 boys were fantastic. They were so kind, polite, we worked and we had fun together. We had a mutual respect and with this we met our goals while having fun and enjoying activities. Their biggest challenge was working together as a team and making compromises.  They were encouraged to push through activities they did not want to complete together and they learned a dose of patience.

Mrs. Ravel would say, "Priscilla they don't know anything about teamwork."

 I would say, "Well now is the time to learn."

That is the whole point of my presence to challenge them and help them learn better social skills, listening, teamwork, and coping.  
With Priscilla's  therapy, there is always some skill being practiced even when they don't believe it.  
                                   Jump!

                         Pris morning workout 

Musical chairs

                                  Deyra 

\

Herbert 

]

Mrs. Ravel´s kids I adored

Singing Jesus songs in the Church

Bracelet making 

Our two wonderful volunteers

Brother and Sister

Feeling Exercises 

They won the Scavenger Hunt

Favorite Little Boy 

Favorite boys 

Soccer with Rock nets

Volleyball

Sponge Relay Reward 

The Teamwork Train

Jesus Christ Summer Camp

It just happened to be that the Kids Crusade Christian summer camp was in town from the states. Every year they come out and work with the kids and youth in an action packed one week program. I came just in time to participate for the last 2 days. 

The kids part went from 9 to 12 and the youth went from 530 to 730. It was lead by Pastor Liz and a group of volunteers from North Carolina. 

Along with them, the Trinity church group contributed their time and services with Pastor Ruth being the powerful center. Everyone in the community knew who she was and her positive impact could be  seen from miles away. She started a program to help mothers creating their crafts business at home. She engaged

In community outreach for years and years making herself always available to the community. A true angel in my book and a strong woman. 

As far as the staff from North Carolina, there was a nice older man named Roy I became friendly with and we would group together to help organize the kids for activities. He was retired and lived with his wife in Florida. He was such a nice believer and he loved the Belizian kids. 

It was an action packed time with prayer, scripture, songs, plays, and a puppet named Herbert to entertain the kids. Kids had some serious attachment to those Jesus songs- including myself. They were all interactive songs with sign language and fun movements. When those songs came on, I was up and ready to go more excited than some kids. "We're going to jump and down. We're going to scream out loud. We're going to share the name of Jesus."

Another one was "I'm counting on, I'm counting on God." 

                    

The kids were so happy with the songs the Pastors had great energy, it was such a fantastic event. It was important for me to see kids reaction to their religion and the role it plays in their life. It was the STRENGTH I needed to see. These kids responded to the church and to what was being preached. Of course there were the normal behavioral problems and not listening that comes with sitting for long periods of time.

Otherwise, these children responded to JESUS and I was going to use that in my favor when working with them.

                               

2 Super Women Collide

After all our talk about Mrs. Ravel it was time for us to meet and plan our time together. Mrs. Francis dropped me off in the community in the morning. It was quite a shock when I first entered into the community. She was giving me a tour showing the community center, the churches, and the convenient stores. We were driving along the rocks in her Toyota SUV and local residents were walking on the side of the street.  It was actually quite depressing and I just felt this overwhelming sense of responsibility and commitment. No one has the ability to change a whole community in 2 weeks, but they do have the ability to plant the seeds to help it grow. PRIS

Mrs. Francis was sometimes a bit flighty in a very endearing way.  We are waiting for the bus in the wrong area and we just caught the bus on the way out. Off the bus comes Mrs. Ravel, a heavier and strong African woman with long dreadlocks. 

We both are happy to meet one another patting each other on the back.  She has a look of relief in her eyes and I have a look of curiosity and wonder.  The bus is full with about 60 kids and we are heading off to the Jesus Christ summer camp.

                     

Mrs. Ravel introduces me to her three kids who are a bit shy and nerdy.  They are laughing at me and smiling, which is common for kids when I don't even say anything. We get to talking and I acknowledge and praise all her hard work and she does the same for me. She says then when she saw my resume she was thinking to God, "Can she just stay here the whole summer?." Boy would the have been beneficial for this specific project and community,  but I had other missions to complete.

   

Immediately, she was sharing all the problems with community, her difficulties, and things they needed. She informed me of her need for a computer.  If she wants to type and print a letter, she has to go half an hour by bus and a taxi to get to a cyber cafe.  The MH community area is in the remote area I mentioned with the only grocery store in Belize City.  To access Belize City, you have to take a bus or taxi.  Most of the kids in the MH community don't get proper nutrition, they don't get fed breakfast, and it's hard to feed her own family.  She shared her personal difficulties with having three kids and a husband who just started working.  

While I acknowledge and have mindful empathy towards everything she is saying, none of it is surprising or unheard of with my experience. This is common for this population to identify with all their problems and hardships rather than focusing on community support and positive aspects. 

Clients commonly just need to be redirected to the strengths and potential of the community. We listed out the community strengths and identified positive community members, and the role of the church.  It was a community with five churches and a lot of faith. It was important to point out over and over, day by day, step by step-to show that there is good within the community and God's love is present.  

Just like my interaction with Mrs. Francis, our conversations were just bursting out of the seems with ideas, goals, beliefs, and plans. We were a power couple that was ready to utilize my time effectively. I made sure she knew that I was giving 120 percent effort for my time. If we had to work all day and into the night, I was there for her and to assist her in anything she needs. She said I was her angel and I said she was an angel to her community.  

Sometimes God has to let Angels know that their not alone....PRIS