Students display hurricane art
An art show opened today in Orange Walk and News 5’s Jose Sanchez discovered that while the medium may have been familiar, the message was not.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
After Hurricane Keith faded, the damage left behind was thought to be primarily to buildings and crops. But that’s not necessarily true; our minds are also affected, particularly those of our children. And to nurture kids, UNICEF, the Ministry of Human Development and the National Committee for Families and Children supported a project in which primary school students would have a chance to express their feelings through art, poetry, and essays.
Charlotte Nal, National Committee for Families and Children
“It’s for them to get their feelings out. Normally as a child we are always being told we must be seen and not heard. Most of the time, even though we Belizeans are very resilient, we bounce back real quickly from the hurricane, but still we don’t think about the children that many nights a lot of these children have nightmares and fears about this reoccurring. And according to statistics, the hurricanes to come will be worst than the ones we are experiencing now. So this is giving them a chance to overcome this and be prepared for whatever disaster, hopefully none at all, that will come in the future that they’ll be able to handle it quite good as they did this time.”
Today was particularly special because present at the show in Orange Walk were students from Caye Caulker, one of the places worst hit by Keith.
Trey Magana, student
“Hurricane Keith is my second hurricane experience. During Hurricane Keith my family sheltered at the Caye Caulker Guest House. Because the hurricane hit through the day, I was able to see trees falling and roofs flying through the air like flying saucers. The caye became flooded and I was sad because I wanted to see if my house was standing. During the eye of the hurricane I was able to check on our house. The downstairs rooms were gone, but the house was still standing, although it was leaning a little.”
Charlenne Young, Student, Describing Poster
“This house and that house have no roof. And on this one, part of it came off. On this one the whole roof already came off. This lamppost dropped in that yard. This one crushed the house.”
Charlotte Nal
“It’s not the typical artwork because most of the artwork has a lot of dark colors, a lot of black. Almost every artwork you see, you’ll find black which depicts fear in all the children affected by Hurricane Keith.”
Maria Ayala, Student
“In my first drawing I have the whole of Belize and I have San Pedro and Caye Caulker. The hurricane eye was at San Pedro first and the rest of the hurricane was at Caye Caulker. And after the hurricane left San Pedro it went to Caye Caulker. Then afterwards we saw these houses all destroyed, some houses didn’t even have roof, some of them fell.”
“My friends cousin they didn’t find their house. My friend Chantelle and her cousin lost everything that she had in her house. They were staying at the barracks, but Mr. Fermin helped them build a house they live there now.”
The fifty-six drawings and twenty essays are not to be taken lightly. They are the tears and dreams of all our children. And if a disaster strikes anytime soon, it may be worth your while to get your kids some colored markers and paper. Reporting for News 5, Jose Sanchez.
Next stop for the travelling exhibit will be San Pedro.
