Pre-school celebrates ethnicity

In a country of many cultures, you’d think that our children would just automatically get to know how Belizeans from different ethnic groups live their lives. Maybe, but one Belize City pre-school is not taking any chances.

Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting

The one hundred and seven children of Lloyd Coffin Pre-school in the Lake Independence area of the city today celebrated the nation’s diverse cultures. The event was part of a month-long preparation on cultural identity. Teacher Sharon Beard says the presentation is timely, coming at the end of child stimulation month.

Sharon Beard, Teacher

“What we’re trying to do, is sensitise the parents, because we did these different cultures with the children already in the classroom. So we try to get the parents involved in getting the costumes ready and also preparing the food that you saw in there in display. Because we want them to be aware of what we’re teaching, not just ABC and teaching them how to count, but actually going a bit further so that they can know what is their identity.”

They represented Belize in all its multi-ethnic splendour: the Creole, Garifuna, Mestizo, Maya, Mennonite, and even recent immigrants from India.

The children, ages three and four, also partook of the various dishes made by the ethnic groups.

Sharon Beard

“Apart from just portraying the costume, they will also be tasting the food. So it’s a little bit of the yellow ginger and a little bit of the stew beans, the sere, and the rice and beans. So everything hitting their taste buds today.”

But besides the food, poetry, and prayers the youngsters shared, Beard says the event was more than just an opportunity for parents to dress up their little ones.

Sharon Beard

“I would like them to be happy with themselves first of all, and also to accept their peers and their other siblings for who they are; we’re all God’s people.”

Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.