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Making Life Easier for Belize Kids

by tacogirl 16/06/2016
written by tacogirl 16/06/2016
Belize Kids

No matter what country you are from or live in, children are the most precious part of a community and it is important to ensure that they are well nurtured. Belize Kids are no different, however the need for assistance is. Without government funded schools many hard working two income families still struggle to send their children to school, never mind be in the position to buy them items that may be considered a luxury such as a back pack. It’s so special when a young person who although not born in Belize has grown up in San Pedro, recognizes a need and decides to do something about it. Faith Noel is just that somebody to start the ball rolling.

Thanks for your great idea Faith (Miss SPHS). Photo by Ambergris Today.

Thanks for your great idea Faith (Miss SPHS). Photo by Ambergris Today.

It quickly went beyond Faith and many started stepping in to help.

I got an email from one of my blog readers, Patty Jacquez saying she was talking with Renita a local business woman and she mentioned that Patty should message me. This is in response to San Pedro Scoop aka Rebecca’s recent blog about “Giving in San Pedro, helping local kids“. In it she mentioned Jansport backpacks for the kids. She went on to say more about the blog post on the high school collecting backpacks for underprivileged kids.

After checking into this further Patty believes this was the brainchild of Miss San Pedro High as part of her senior project. She was so impressed. This was her inspiration to put out the backpack challenge.

Patty wrote me and asked if I could be their voice and get the word out for them. She decided to call it the “backpack challenge” from Ramon and Patty Jacquez.

Patty and I did a lot of back and forth and I suggested she try reaching out to JanSport Corp. and she said she would when she got home to Texas.

I will do my part and reach out here;

  • Do any of you reading this have a backpack connection or know of anyone that does and would be willing to donate backpacks for Belize kids?
  • Are you coming down anytime soon and have room in your luggage to bring backpacks with you? If so please do.
  • I am also going to suggest why not fill it up a bit with a few notebooks and all the good stuff a student needs to be successful in school.

A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss

Patty was already on the ball and had two other couples joining them in San Pedro this week. They brought backpacks and wanted to put out a challenge to all visitors coming to SP for the next 2 months to also bring a Jansport backpack. The group was so humbled to do this, to be able to give back to the islands most precious resources, the children.

A Personal Note

I can tell you this from our hearts, we have been coming to San Pedro for the last 8 years. As I walk the beach, sit poolside, visit other resorts and stop by some of the more popular bars I can’t help but think about all the things that have brought people to this beautiful island. What people don’t spend enough time looking at, are the amazing people that make up this island, the people who are the housekeepers, the grounds people, the bartenders, hotel staff, teachers and parents and of course the children. As a mom, grandmother, soon to be retired nurse, I keep coming back to the children. Those beautiful smiling faces, even though they don’t have much they are always happy and smiling. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the island or just island life but I feel blessed and happy when I’m here. So why not give back to the island for the peace and tranquility it brings me, and no better place to start than with the children. When I read about the need for the backpacks, my husband Ramon and I thought why not challenge every visitor to bring just one backpack. Just think, if everyone did that for the next few weeks there would not be a reason for any child to go without a backpack. Such a simple gesture. So we put this out in Houston and our friends Ralph and Julie and their daughter Riley jumped on board and brought an additional 5 backpacks with them. Our other friends from Texas arriving Tuesday, T’mara and Kerry are bringing some too. -Patty Jacquez

Collecting back packs for Belize Kids at Blue Water Grill

Ramon Jacquez, Julie Swearingin, Riley Swearingin, Patty Jacquez and Ralph Swearingin

If you do not have room for JanSport Backpacks in your luggage, you can find them on the island. This first pics shows a bit of the selection at Caye Supplies on Back Street.

Jansport Belize Backpack Challenge

Another San Pedro Shopping option is A&R on Middle Street near RC School. They have a large supply of backpacks. You can easily get a couple from there and walk over to Blue Water Grill to make a donation.

Belize Shopping

RC school girls browsing backpacks

San Pedro Belize

So many choices

Shopping in Belize

Backpack selection at A&R

Backpacks for Belize School kids

Here are a couple of my favorite kids pics since I started my first Belize volunteer experience at Holy Cross Anglican School back in 2007.

Belize Kids

Bucket bath at a local fruit and snack stand

Holy Cross Anglican School Belize

For this Holy Cross School boy marbles were like getting a gold plated Xbox

Related

tacogirl

Laurie 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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5 comments

Tammy Lemus 06/07/2016 - 6:26 pm

Thank you very much,
This is Tammy Lemus.
I am Faith Noel’s mom. I am very proud of her and her thoughts for her fellow students here. She has been raised here since she was four years old and considers herself a local San Pedrana. She had a goal of 80 back packs and raised 89. She donated 19 to the children that were victims of the fire with the school supplies she also received and 70 for the 66 students that high school had determined needed them.
She also took the donation from the Phoenix and got the families of the fire victims all gift certificates to Linos to feed their families.
She has taken on new lunch palapas at the high school that Mr.Alex suggested was a need of the high school. Presently there are only three that over 600 kids are to have lunch and break under every day (two have seats the other doesn’t even have seating to sit at). She has raised money for 5 more palapas (not seating as we were originally told) and they will be being assembled over the next month before school starts for 2016/2017.
Faith also has a school project that will start and is very creative once school is back in session and includes many kids. I personally am very excited for this part!
Please continue your support of the high school students and Faith as Miss SPHS. You can follow her on Facebook on Miss San Pedro High a page she started to show all she is trying to accomplish. The high school kids are the near future of Ambergris Caye and sometimes not always remembered as much as even the Primary school.
Laurie (Taco Girl) is correct. There is no government high school to attend for free. Parents work very hard to send their kids to high school and it is not cheap. They have to pay for books, uniforms as well as tuition and fees.

Reply
Leah VanHam 17/06/2016 - 7:25 pm

I am coming to Belize in July; read this post so I just bought 2 back packs & have asked go workers to throw some in, too.

Where can we drop them off?

Reply
Darius Martinez 17/06/2016 - 12:57 pm

Great initiative that will be beneficial and help some needy children.

Reply
Rebecca 16/06/2016 - 5:37 pm

I will be traveling to and from the states and will absolutely bring some bags back!
I agree, the people of the island are so sweet, such a treasure.
Happy to help!

Reply
tacogirl 16/06/2016 - 6:05 pm

Excellent Rebecca and much appreciated. I tried to surf your back pack it up and go site but it would not load on my phone.

Reply

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I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
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I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
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It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
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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
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Belize Blog Est. 2007

belize travel specialist

ABOUT ME

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. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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