Program feeds the belly and nurtures the mind of hungry youths

Meet Marie Godoy, she is the coordinator of a special feeding program in the City. She provides for almost forty children that drop in to secure at least one good meal for the day and are taught basic life skills. The program has been running for eleven years and many who have benefited from it, return to lend a helping hand. News Five’s Isani Cayetano dropped in at the M&J’s and has this report.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

It’s lunchtime for primary schools across Belize City and a handful of students are trickling into Godoy’s Alley for their daily meal.  It is a ritual that sees them learning and applying values that will help them to become productive citizens.  Before lunch they congregate to wash their hands and then join their voices in prayer.

In the yard are several reminders of the virtues of self discipline.  These children are among a growing number of impoverished students enrolled in schools across the country.

marie godoy

Marie Godoy, Coordinator, M&J’s Feeding Program

“About four years ago I stand up right through that alley, I could never forget that day and I saw four little kids.  The traffic stopped and the kids ran and they said “I’m hungry” and they are four of these kids that you have interviewed and I said “My God these kids really, really need somebody” and I stood there and I called them.  I called the four kids who presently are in my program and I told them look “If I had a program would you come?”  And they said yes miss they said because “we hungry”.  I said good “Monday we’re starting the feeding program.”

For fifty year old Marie Godoy adopting these children through M & J’s Feeding Program has been her lifelong dream.

Marie Godoy

“I wanted to do this for many, many, many years but I know to do something like this it takes time and it takes money and at the time I didn’t have none of them.  I didn’t have money, I didn’t have the time.  So I decided when my kids were already in school, really in university I realized that I have the time, you know, and, you know, I can do a little bit more [so] I decided I’m going to do this program.”

That was eleven years ago and since then a number of children have been fed and taught basic life skills through this program.  Currently enlisted is nine year old Asher Dominguez of Bethel Primary School.

Asher dominguez

Asher Dominguez, Student, Bethel Primary School

“Eena lunchtime Ms. Godoy give yoh something fi eat when yoh noh got and then eena di Saturday program ih like teach yo educational stuff and ih help yo fi get wah education.”

While providing a hearty meal was the initial focus of this project Godoy says it has grown over the years to include complete high school scholarships for successful participants.  The idea nonetheless is to be able to give back and assist those in need.

Marie Godoy

“When people help you, you should find some time in your heart to do something for somebody else.  To me doing this, letting them come on Saturdays, because they play games, they intermingle with one another, you know they share ideas. We have kids who are here from beginners who don’t know how to form letters and we have kids who are on scholarships who are coming back and giving two hours of their time every Saturday who help these little ones.”

Among those recipients who are returning the favor is Virginia Robinson, a second form student of Wesley College.

Virginia Robinson, Student, Wesley College

virginia robinson

“One day, wah Saturday, my friend mi come ova da my house and mi come ask me if I mi wahn goh da wah program.  So I mih gaan with a then Ms. Godoy ask me if I wahn join di program so I join it di Saturday.  Then the first time she mi gih we some spelling words and I pass it then from then I staat fi goh back every Saturday.  Then she give me wah scholarship and then she tell me mek I, I need fi go pan Saturdays and help di pickney dehn so I just plan work fih dehn.”

During the week, on the other hand, Godoy has her hands full with the necessary logistics to keep her kids fed.

Marie Godoy

“I start from in the evening [and] in the morning I finish it.  I don’t have a kitchen as you can see.  It’s just something very small so I bring everything prepared.  All I do here is dish out.  That’s all we do here, dish out the food. We have a menu here.  I don’t give my kids the same food everyday, I don’t believe in that.  I cook for these kids the same way I cook for my family, no different, you know, because I figure I eat out of this food.  I have people who come and eat out of this food so it can’t be no different.”

Today’s menu is Italian.  The children are each served a plate of spaghetti and sauce by waiters chosen from among them as they sit around several adjoined tables in the shade nearby.  After lunch another team is responsible for doing the dishes.  The younger students are given a few minutes to watch television or read a book while the others engage in a game of Chalupa.  The exercise encourages them to further interact with each other.

Asher Dominguez

“Ih fun and yoh wah get fu play with dehn and dehn be nice to yo.”

Isani Cayetano

“What are some of the things that Ms. Godoy has taught you that you are able to use with your other classmates at school?”

Asher Dominguez

“Yo fi use kindness and caring and em yo fi always have manners when yoh dih talk to people.”

…and manners is what they all have.  Upon arrival Godoy and the other students are bid the time of day, at the end of the meal she is thanked and upon departure they are sure to say their goodbyes.  It is a feeling of satisfaction for Godoy that goes beyond cordiality and etiquette.

Marie Godoy

“I believe when you give, you give and don’t expect anything in return.  You give with that heart.  You give like, mein I did it.  That’s it. Don’t expect anything.”

While Godoy’s generosity comes at no cost for the dozens of underserved children in her community she does expect them to grow up rooted in faith with positive values that will allow them to become men and women for others. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.