New children’s home opens
A couple of years ago, News 5 toured the site of a proposed children’s home in Flowers Bank. This week, we toured the new facility. As you will see, the home and the setting are welcoming indeed.
Miller Tyler, Belizean Christian Efforts Children?s Home
?It?s finally over. I mean it?s finally at the end. I am very pleased with what my husband has done up here while I was working. I am very pleased.?
Jacqueline Woods Reporting
It took three years to realize, but from the looks of things, Belizean Christian Efforts Children?s Home is the most refreshing facility of its kind in the country. The Home, which is situated in Flowers Bank Village in the Belize District, is the mission of Millie and Nelson Tyler. According to the Tylers, the project was not an easy undertaking because they had to ensure that the building had all the amenities to care for children in special circumstances.
Millie Tyler, Director, Belizean Christian Efforts Children?s Home
?First of all, the environment; it?s fresh, clean air. The things that are exposed to them in the city are not exposed to them up here. So they will be able to concentrate on probably getting their lives back together and with the help of good people here to give them love and care and to listen to them all the time. Hopefully and we will keep praying that they will learn to trust us. I believe if a child trusts you, they will come to you all the time and for sure, I know they will not get any abuse up here.?
The facility has a kitchen, dining room, family room, bedroom, bathrooms and a secured playing ground. Although the home can accommodate thirty-two children, the Tyler?s believe there should only be one child to a bed therefore they will provide care for sixteen children. The Tyler?s covered much of the expense and relied on donations to get the work done. The home, which will cater to girls, will help to relive the overcrowded situation at the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre.
Millie Tyler
?My aim is to really help these children to get their lives back together and get the sadness out of their hearts. Because we have enough love to go around. Love costs nothing; it?s free. So if we could give these children love that would be one point that would help them to get their little lives back together.?
The children will attend primary school in the village. Besides getting an education, the young residents will have the opportunity to do the things most children their age enjoy.
Millie Tyler
?Because there will be principles up here, the principles have to be carried out. Because everyone that is involved up here will be reminded that they are not our children, that they are people?s children and that they are children regardless and they need us adults to help them to pull through this that they have been through. So if we are not there to help them, then who will? They can?t help themselves. So everyone up here will know that there are principles that they have to follow and there are guidelines that the children have to follow also so that they could become a better person when they grow up.?
The home targets children between the ages of five and fourteen years of age
Millie Tyler
?These children are coming from Dorothy Menzies Children Home. I am releasing Dorothy Menzies with sixteen little girls–as you know they are overcrowded. So my aim is really to help them so that their children could spread out. I don?t really know all about the children them as yet, but what I do know is that the children I am getting, they?re abused. They are abused in some way; I don?t know yet.?
The facility?s staff consists of a supervisor, medical assistant, home assistant and cook. Teachers from the area will support the cause by offering tutoring sessions to the children. The children will also be involved in a number of programs that will help in their over all development.
Millie Tyler
?For their dental care, I have Dr. Cuellar. She volunteered to do their dental work for me. So she wants to do that. I am still looking for a medical doctor in general practice or whatever to volunteer his time because I?d like the children to get follow up with their medical, dental, or their whatever. Each child will have a file.?
There is a nurse in Double Head Cabbage, which is not far away. She has transportation and so do we. There is a nurse assistant who will be working here. There is also a nurse assistant working here in Flowers Bank. So we?ll have a nurse assistant in the morning shift and a nurse assistant on the midnight shift. ?
Tyler says because the girls will be coming through the court system it is not certain how long the girls will remain at the home.
Millie Tyler
?Anyone who wants to come up to see or visit us are welcome to come and see what the children are doing and if they would like to help in any way, please do so. Because remember we have to pay the employees. We have to provide the children with proper food. We?re providing them with clothing, footwear, school books, uniform and everything in a whole we are providing our own self.?
It is expected that the home?s first children will arrive at the end of the month
If you would like to assist Belizean Christian Efforts Children’s Home, please contact Millie Tyler at telephone numbers 220?2073 or 223-3671. The Tylers would like to thank Belize Customs for the assistance they have given to the facility.
