Belizean American Returns Home; Donates to Schools
Primary schools are now in session and Belizean American Josephine Menzies-McFadzean is giving back to teachers at multiple institutions in Belize City, in honor of her family who are educators. Today at Eglah’s Training Center, a donation of stationeries was handed over to leaders from educational institutions, one of which will benefit from volunteer work from Menzies-McFadzean herself. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Josephine Menzies-McFadzean is giving back to the schools that had an impact on her life when growing up in Belize. Today, she handed over stationery and school supplies for teachers from three institutions. The donation is timely as the new academic year for primary schools began earlier this week when students returned to in-class, face-to-face learning.
Josephine Menzies-McFadzean
Josephine Menzies-McFadzean, Donor
“I went to Saint John’s primary school and that’s where I got the passion for math. Saint John Vianney, my group an alumni association in New York, we have supported that school so I wanted them to come also – a representative from their school. And Eglah’s is a school that my sister, Mrs. Jane Bennett started in honor of my mom so that was a recipient for sure. And then YMCA, I will be tutoring for them so I wanted them also to be one of the recipients. Eglah’s is the focal point because this is the school to honor my mom because she was an educator and a very respected and popular one. As anyone who know her would say, Eglah’s was my base.”
Menzies-McFadzean has been a teacher in the New York State Public System for twenty-five years and is now retired and has relocated to Belize. To honor the profession, she says that she is focusing primarily on the teachers’ needs and not the students.
Josephine Menzies-McFadzean
“A lot of times the students get a lot of supplies and the teachers are forgotten. And the teacher, as I attest, is the noblest of professions. So I have supplies for them to use for the students. Expo markers, games, certificates, pens, pencils, erasers, index cards – whatever a teacher needs.”
The Young Men’s Christian Association is benefiting not only from the supplies, but also from the experience that Menzies-McFadzean is volunteering to the institution.
Clara Cuellar
Dr. Clara Cuellar, Executive Director, Y.M.C.A. Belize
“This donation for us is important because more than just the supplies and resources for Y.M.C.A., it is about getting someone who will help to train my youth leaders on how to teach math to the younger students. So for us that’s an even larger donation. The years of experience that she has will bring to the program an ability for her to train high schoolers – those who are currently members of YMCA and volunteers that we get from other high schools because as much as using youth teachers is helpful to children, the youth teachers themselves, we need to ensure have the correct methodology and pedagogy on how to teach. So instead of doing the problems for them, they know how to demonstrate examples. So she will be helping to train our youth leaders and that will be significant for us because she comes with a wealth of knowledge of different ways to make the math come alive.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
