Back to school scholarships from Belize Kids First

With the lingering effects of the economic hard times, many families battled to allocate the back to school dollar. For a few, it was a little less painful through initiatives that sprung to ensure that the children looked smart and were well equipped to report to the classrooms. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has the story of a scholarship program that recognized three students who love all that the classroom has to offer.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Primary schools across the country re-opened classrooms this morning to welcome their enrolment for the new academic year.  It’s a difficult economic time, but parents and teachers have been busy getting things together to allow for a smooth transition.  The process, for most, began in June at the end of the last school year and continued today with orientation.  While some parents have been able to cover the cost of registration, others have been struggling to make ends meet.  This morning one local organization, with help from the Belize City Council, made life a bit easier for a handful of needy students.  Leading the charge to keep these students in school is Annie Palacio, founder of Belize Kids First.

Annie Palacio, Founder, Belize Kids First

annie palacio

“We have found out that many children attend school but they don’t really have what they need.  Most of likely tuition is one of the main things and the organization was just there for them to get their tuition to go back to school but we found out that the children need much more than that.  So we ended up paying for tuition, books, uniforms, other accessories including shoes, even down to socks because if you want to attend school you need to look successful.  So we didn’t stop at just at tuition but we took care of everything else for most of these children and most of them come from homes that their parents are really trying.  They’re unemployed, they’re seeking jobs but they can’t find it at the time and these children want to attend school.”

Realizing the importance of that idea to assist these children was Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers.

zenaida moya flowers

Zenaida Moya-Flowers, Belize City Mayor

“Ms. Annie contacted myself and informed of what she was trying to do to get more opportunities to some of the more marginalized young people so that they can attend high school and immediately when she contacted me, immediately, you know, I saw that it was something that was good and that we should definitely try and assist her with.  And so I took it to the council and got the support for us to assist her.”

That assistance came in the form of three full scholarships awarded by the Belize City Council to any high school of the recipients’ choice.  The focus of the scholarships wasn’t as much on academic performance as it was on their enthusiasm to be in school.  Palacio said the criteria was based on simply that desire.

Annie Palacio

“They don’t have to be children who are doing well, who excelled in primary school or anything like that, just that they want to go to school.  They come from homes where their parents really cannot afford for them to attend.  And they also have a part of it, the youth program as a part of the organization that they themselves have to be a part of.  They will also be fundraising on their own to buy other little accessories they may need throughout the year.”

Equally important is the question of whether or not the often cash strapped municipal government will be able to sustain the four-year scholarships.

Zenaida Moya-Flowers

“We sat down and we decided what we could afford alright and so what we could afford could assist three high schoolers.  We will be paying their full tuition and books right, right up to fourth year, their fourth form.  All they have to do is pass.  We’re not asking for any high, high grade extra.  If they make it we will be very happy about that but all they have to do is make the passing grade from the particular school and if next year if we can afford to add on more then definitely we’ll be adding on more because we’re here to assist but right now we’re working with these three young people.”

The past few months have seen a number of back-to-school drives being held to assist needy children with school expenses.  Initiatives included a well received free haircut project spearheaded by our own Brian Dena. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.