UB’s SWSA overhaul child care center for World Social Work Day

Lending a helping hand, that’s what the students of the University of Belize are doing to assist one child care center in the City to mark World Social Work Day. The two day project will not only give the Dorothy Menzies Centre a new face lift, it will also provide the children with some needed items. News Five Delahnie Bain, was on hand for the start of the project.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

The Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center is home to fifty-three children. But as the years go by and the country faces tougher economic times, the assistance that the center receives is dwindling. Today the University of Belize Social Work Students Association lent a helping hand to honour World Social Work Day.

Samson Jacobs, Community Service Chair, SWSA, UB

“One; it’s because we’re commemorating World Social Work Day and the second one is because community service is part of our—we’re mandated to take part in community service and so we just decided that this project will tie hand in hand in with World Social Work Day.”

Hortence Augustine, Foster Mother, Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center

Hortence Augustine

“I felt very happy and I know now that we are not forgotten and I wish more of them would come in and assist with the kids and not only to come in and clean, but come in and be mentors and things that the children would look up to them as role models and know that society will welcome them back.”

The students will be giving the children’s play area a full makeover and will check off a few items off the center’s wish list. From the look of things, they have their work cut out for them.

Hortence Augustine

“On our wish list we had things like pampers, underwear, body lotion, DVD players, CD, things that children normally would use. Disposable gloves because we have to remember we practice universal precaution across the board here.”

Wendy Rosales, Vice President, SWSA, UB

“It’s going to be a two day project, meaning we will be finishing up on Saturday. So today is basically scraping the walls and starting getting the paint done. But we also plan to decorate it with the curtains, the cushions and so forth. So today is basically the first step; the scraping and the painting.”

Veejah Nunez, Member, SWSA UB

“I think it’s something that they really need because the condition it was in before we started, it looked dilapidated and the walls were—the paint was coming off. So I think that the work we’re doing like painting over the walls and stuff will make them feel more comfortable when they’re in the institution.”

Members of the association volunteered to do the work, not only for the credit hours that go toward their internship, but also to experience the joy of helping those in need.

Wendy Rosales

“Community service is a big thing. With social work we always promote students to be more involved in the community and to give back. Many of us are blessed and I think it’s an opportunity to give our time to those who are really in need. That’s why I decided to participate in our community project today.”

Veejah Nunez

“The love and the care that we show them will let them know that there are people who care and there are people who are concerned about the way they are living and we are willing to do what it takes to make them feel more comfortable at an institution such as this one.”

And while the project is not complete, the end result is expected to lift the spirits of the kids at the center.

Wendy Rosales

“It’s just the smile on the children’s faces when they come home from school and see there’s bright paint, it smells good, there are cartoon characters on the wall. Just the satisfaction that they feel.”

Hortence Augustine

“Of course, they will love it. All kids love to be in child friendly situations so that’s something good for them. It’s positiveness for them.”

Of course, the students alone could not pull off today’s project and they were more than grateful to businesses that helped. Delahnie Bain for News Five.