Belizean students in Cuba studying hard
At any given time you will find Belizean university students scattered across the globe–not just in the familiar places like the U.S.A., England, Mexico and the Caribbean, but much further afield, as far as Israel, Norway, South Africa and even Australia. But nowhere around the world have Belizean students banded together as much as those studying in Cuba. News 5’s William Neal travelled to Havana to see how they’re doing.
William Neal, Reporting
The limited supply and growing demand for higher education has led many Belizeans to go beyond our borders. While for decades many students pursued degrees in the United States, Britain or Guatemala to name a few, 1981 saw a major departure from tradition. Guatemala, in protest of Belize’s independence, decided to turn back Belizeans studying there on scholarships. But as that door closed Cuba offered a new opportunity for many Belizeans. Since then over fifty Belizeans have returned home with degrees from Cuban universities in the fields of medicine, agronomy, engineering and veterinary medicine.
Today the number of students enrolled in Cuban universities total over a hundred, a significant increase due largely to the efforts of a newly opened Embassy of Belize in Havana. At the embassy’s inauguration, less than twenty-five students were on scholarship in Cuba. By September of this year, due to the sustained energies of the embassy, another fifty students are expected to enroll in schools across the island.
Juan Cariso Teves, Director, E.C.L.M.
“We have had good relations with the Belizean students from the beginning. We also consider them to be very good students.”
Juan Cariso Teves is the director of Escuela Latinoamericana de Ciencias Medicas, the Latin American School of Medical Sciences. This school, established after hurricane Mitch, was the brainchild of Fidel Castro. His thinking was that Cuba has been providing doctors and nurses to the region especially in cases of natural disasters and it would be better for Cuba to offer medical training instead. Over fifteen hundred students are currently enrolled in this institution and Belize, the only English-speaking country, has nineteen students–nine second years and ten first years.
Juan Cariso Teves
“We feel that they are well disciplined students, very studious and have excelled academically as well as socially.”
Perla Aldana, Belizean Medical Student
“We have very good reputations. We have no disciplinary troubles, no drinking, no kind of disciplinary problems. We are one of the students that are performing really good in school academically. We have hundred percent pass in first years.”
Perla Aldana is one of the Belizean representatives at the school and a member of the Secretariat de Communicacion, or the Student Government. She says that the Belizean students are a tightly knit group who have represented Belize well.
Perla Aldana, Belizean Medical Student
“As an association here in our school, I would say so far we have been working hand in hand. We participate socially, culturally, academically in all the aspects. I believe they really get us to be integrated persons.”
Meanwhile, in the center of Havana at Universidad de la Havana, a smaller group is also trying to build a positive reputation for Belizean students. The institution founded in 1728 is one of the oldest in the Caribbean and the administration was willing to sit, talk and sing the praises of their institution and how well “the Belizeans” were performing across the board.
The student body at this University amounts to over eight thousand, making the Belizeans there a tiny minority, pursuing various fields of study like chemical engineering, history, biology and sociology. Though their academic struggles may vary, they share a common purpose rooted in patriotism…to make Belize a better place.
Daniel Chuc, History Student
“Cuba is aiding Belize in the development of its human resources and this I believe we should really take advantage of for the national development of Belize.”
William Neal
“A scenic half hour drive from the city leads to the rural area areas of Havana and La Universidad Agraria de la Havana, the University of Agriculture in Havana. Home to the largest single group of Belizean students presently studying in Cuba.”
But not all in this group, numbering close to forty, are pursuing degrees in agricultural sciences. The majority are taking classes to improve their Spanish proficiency as the first step towards completing their degree programs in Cuba. One Belizean who has benefited and will as a matter of fact, return home shortly is Carlos Itza. Itza left his home in San Jose Succotz, at the tender age of sixteen and was the valedictorian in the bachelor’s program.
Carlos Itza, Agricultural Student
“During the graduation it was Fidel Castro that gave us the certificate. After that we had a meeting with him and all the valedictorians.”
William Neal
“What do you plan to do when you get back to Belize?”
Carlos Itza
“I’m working to a big project in sugarcane, the use of satellite images in agriculture. I plan to at least do a project for the benefits of the Belizean agricultural system because we don’t have a good agriculture system compared to Cuba.”
But that is not the only way that Belizean students are comparing Cuba and Belize. They were all willing to talk about the lessons learnt that would change their outlook forever.
Harry Guerrero, Civil Engineering Student
“Cuba, it really gives us a chance to mature. The jump from our way of life in Belize, to the way that we live here in Cuba is a rather big one and I think that that’s the best advantage because it really gives us a chance to mature.”
Amy Roaches, Prep Student
“To the students who are planning to come here to Cuba, let them come. It’s a challenging experience, but on the other hand we get to find out who we really are and what are our capabilities.”
Tanya Coye, Education Student
“I personally believe that Belize needs more professional people, and in that area we will definitely come in. Also, as an individual, Cuba is very important to our future, because we need to get qualified, we need to give back to the community when we reach home.”
Perla Aldana
“I believe in any part of the world, as a student you will have difficulties. So you just have to come out of your country, sacrifice some years, but they will in every aspect.”
But while they all agree that some sacrifices are necessary what would they want most or advise others to bring?
Student
“Bring lotta food.”
Student
“Definitely food.”
Student
“Family.”
Student
“I miss my family, food and my boyfriend.”
Student
“My computer, hudut (Garifuna dish) and more food.”
William Neal
“Education is supposed to prepare you for life and based on the conversations with the many Belizeans studying here in Cuba, their experience has done just that, by teaching them life long lessons. William Neal Reporting for News 5.
