Overcrowded orphanage gets helping hand
It is a sad, painful fact that while many children go home to parents that love and care for them, there are three times as many, who go home to an environment where they are mistreated, abused and neglected. Too many Belizean children are victims of this practice, evidenced by the number of them being cared for by various facilities throughout the country. Earlier today, News 5’s Jacqueline Woods visited one centre that is so overcrowded, it simply cannot accommodate any more children.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre has been providing a safe home for children who have been either abused or neglected for several years. But as social problems seem to spiral out of control, today there is simply no more space available at the institution.
Dorothy Menzies, Chair, Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre
“We have a severe overcrowding. There are so many children coming in with parents who are in jail for drugs and all that. Today, we have fifty and we can only comfortably accommodate twenty-five, so you can see we have a serious overcrowding situation.”
The Human Development Department is aware of the situation and is in the process of trying to alleviate the problem by relocating some of the older children to other care facilities.
Dorothy Menzies
“First of all, it is an institution which is the least desirable place to have to put children, a home is much better. And second, it is just so very congested these days, so they try to put them in foster homes, but I think we’ve just about run out of foster homes at this present time.”
However, a project by one mission, the Belizean Christian Efforts established by Nelson and Millie Tyler, promises to bring some much need relief to the system. The Tylers have acquired twenty acres of land in Flowers Bank, which was given to them by the Government of the Belize to establish a children’s home and clinic that will also serve the community.
Nelson Tyler, Belizean Christian Efforts
“It would be practical, because we haven’t tried to build a home. If we could get property, we would build a children’s home, a residence. We came down again, and got the opportunity to speak to Minister Musa, and Minster Musa was encouraged that Millie was coming back as a Belizean to bring something back to the country. From there, we were directed to Minister Samuels. He showed us some government property and then he eventually showed us some property in Flowers Bank that belonged to him. So he donated twenty acres of property to us.”
Construction of the centre has already started and should be completed by September.
Nelson Tyler
“We plan on not only having a residence for the children with a school, but we’ve also talked with the farmers and the fishers that live in Flowers Bank. They are looking forward to helping the children learn how to farm. We’re also digging a two and a half acre lake, so the children will be able to learn how to fish, Millie has a lot of talent in crafts. So we’re looking to be able to offer these children a lot of things.”
Although the clinic will not be ready until eight months time, it did open for a brief trial period last September to serve the people in the neighbouring villages.
Nelson Tyler
“We had a hundred and forty-seven people come to the clinic, children as well as adults. We had a licensed practitioner come out and we believed that it will be open to the public. However, it’s designate really for the children’s home.”
Menzies says she is encouraged by the fact that there are people like the Tylers who are willing to give a helping hand not for any profit making venture, but because they are genuinely concerned about the welfare of Belize.
Dorothy Menzies
“It’s something that I think is a good idea, if people have that kind of heart to take in children that need it. I don’t see anything wrong with it at all. Millie and her husband seem dedicated to doing this, so we’re looking forward to when she can take some of our children.”
Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
According to caretakers at the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre, twelve of their wards are eligible for adoption. The children range from ages two to fifteen. For information about adoption, please contact Human Services in Belize City.
