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Be Kind Belize

by tacogirl 21/05/2009
written by tacogirl 21/05/2009
Be KInd Belize

Another great email came in yesterday that is worth sharing. I hope if you can help out on this one you will. Colette has made it very easy as to what she needs and how you can help make it happen.

Hopefully, anyone who receives this email will already be well aware of Be Kind Belize – if not, feel free to email me for more information. This year has been very exciting as after a year of writing and developing my humane education program for primary schools in San Pedro, I was able to get out and start working with schools. I had to be realistic as I am currently a one woman band and so I am working with two schools, Holy Cross Anglican School and Island Academy. Both of these schools have very different needs and present their own delights, rewards and challenges to me as a humane educator.

This summer, I will be taking 6 specially selected children, two from Island Academy and four from Holy Cross Anglican School, on a Kind Kids Adventure to the Belize mainland. What on earth is a Kind Kids Adventure I hear you asking?

Well, it is an overnight field trip, which will involve some of the following activities: Visiting Belize Bird Rescue, which rescues and rehabilitates wild Belizean birds so that they can be returned to the wild, meeting a real Belizean cowboy, who specializes in training horses with kindness so that they can learn a bit about horses and horse care, visiting a specialist reptile education center, visiting a Belizean vet, who runs a practice in a village so that they can learn about how to become a vet in Belize, visiting an Green Iguana breeding and research facility and an animal shelter. There are a few other surprises being planned but I am still in the planning stages – and this is why you are receiving this email.

I should though give you some reasons for this field trip. Firstly, these children have been specially selected for being particularly kind children or for being children that would benefit most from this sort of experience. Through this field trip, they will experience and learn things about the people and animals of Belize that they may never have had an opportunity to. Because I am taking two groups from very different schools, they will get a chance to get to know each other and learn a bit more about their community in San Pedro. They will also learn about vocational opportunities available to them working with animals and the environment in Belize. In addition to this – and this is an important thing – they will, through the support of the community, learn a bit about what it means to give back.

I have been involved in non profit work for my entire career and despite moving to Belize to start a new life, I found myself drawn back to what I love best, working with kids and animals. Be Kind Belize is my pet project here and now I need a little bit of help to make this possible. I will stress at this point that I really do not want any actual money donations. What I am looking for is practical assistance and these are the things that I need help with. The group going to Belize will consist of 6 children and 2-3 adults (we may need to have a parent or teacher from each school)

1. Transportation for the group to Belize and back.
2. We have generously been offered a van and driver but we would appreciate assistance with petrol costs while in Belize.
3. Overnight accommodation somewhere near the Belmopan area: dormitories, bunks, or tents would be gratefully accepted as we are not trying to be fussy or spoiled here. I haven’t set dates for the trip although we are hoping to do it in August/September, which is our lowest season so that it might be easier to obtain accommodation. I am flexible.
4. Four meals: lunch and dinner on the first day and breakfast and lunch on the second day.
5. Any entry fees that may be necessary to pay although we are hoping that most of the facilities we visit will give us complimentary entry.
6. If you are feeling particularly generous – t- shirts for the group and the event. The Be Kind Belize logo is attached to this email.

That is it. It isn’t a complicated event and it shouldn’t be expensive. You may be asking two questions: Why don’t you want money? and, How can I give practical help?

I don’t want money because I spent most of my life working in the non profit sector. Everything was organised and run by committee, which as many of you will be aware of, can be frusrtating and often not fruitful. When my first non profit (established in 1990 and run entirely on practical donations and volunteer assistance) became to big for me to handle, I gratefully handed it over to a big animal welfare charity, run by a committee and they have done a good job with it ever since. I swore I would never work by committee again and I am trying hard to stick to that. This also means that I don’t want to actively fundraise, keep accounts or justify money, so I would prefer other people volunteer their time to turn any assistance they want to give into a practical donation.

How can I give practical help? Well you could send this email on to others you know who can give us some help. You could get in touch and let me know that you want to help and once I know, I could inform you where we will need to stop and eat or where we are staying so that you can work with the businesses directly. You could just invite us over to your place and feed us and put us up over night. You could make us up a packed lunch. You could call up the water taxi company and say ‘give these kids a ride to Belize and back’. These are just a few suggestions, but I am open to any others.

On one more note, I am planning to provide Be Kind Belize to other schools next year, but need volunteer educators to do that. If you can give a couple of hours a week and understand how important it is for children to learn how to be kind to themselves, to each other and to other living creatures, please let me know.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email and even if you can’t help, I still thank you, because you wouldn’t be receiving this if I didn’t think you were a kind person.

Colette

Related

tacogirl

Laure Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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8 comments

Eddie and Melissa Colvin 22/05/2009 - 5:23 am

Colette, we are very interested in assisting with your project. As owners at Bermuda Beach, Holy Cross and the kids are also our neighbors! And, with 7 kids of our own (ages 20 to 13), this, as a family mission project, is of particular value to us all. Melissa and I are returning to San Pedro this Sunday with our oldest daughter for a week, and would like to meet with you if you’re available. Feel free to e-mail us over next couple days for a date and time if you can. Regards

Reply
tacogirl 22/05/2009 - 9:04 am

Eddie and Melissa thanks for offering assistance – I have forwarded your into and comment along to Colette.

Reply
Tara 21/05/2009 - 3:34 pm

Oops…meant moving to San Pedro (not Sand). Texting and driving! Won’t miss that!

Reply
tacogirl 21/05/2009 - 3:40 pm

ha ha San pedro it is true. Hi Tara – see you when you get here – thanks for the compliment and I will pass along the note to Colette along with your contact info.

Reply
Tara 21/05/2009 - 3:33 pm

I would like to help Collette. Myself, my husband and my 4 year old daughter are moving to Sand Pedro in Sept. We would definately like to volunteer our time after we get there. Maybe we could get some t-shirts for this years trip and mail it to you. Please let me know who to contact. Thanks :). You are an inspiration to anyone wishing to start a new life in a new country 🙂

Tara
North Carolina

Reply
Julian Foster from Upstate SC 21/05/2009 - 6:49 am

Hi Laurie,

I like your new page… will check it over more but right now I think you’ve done a good job. It is no fun going through the learning curve of new software.. I know, having written programs in the past. However, it does get easier!!!

Have fun… I’ve enjoyed you page for a long time.

Julian

Reply
tacogirl 21/05/2009 - 7:02 am

Thanks Julian – learning curve is so right ha ha especially for a low tech girl. You are right though it is getting easier as I go. Making notes helps to so I can remember how to do stuff – there are just so many options available in wordpress.

Reply
tacogirl 22/05/2009 - 9:03 am

Hi Statiagirl – Colette has already got t-shirts lined up but I will pass along your comment and contact info to her. Thanks for compliment and encouragement on tech stuff and new site – still a few more surprises to come there.

Reply

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Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton! I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s... always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and... local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do... what everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation.

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