A Single Mother of Four is Gifted Land Title & Restored House

A single mother and her children are in better living conditions tonight.  Georgia Valentine today received the keys to a house that was retrofitted and gifted to her through Amy Thomas’ N.G.O., Beauty in Belize in partnership with Doctor Candice Pitts. Valentine did not live in the best condition, but she is now safe, dry and comfortable at her new house in the Mesopotamia Division. News Five’s Duane Moody has the following story.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Meet thirty-five-year-old Georgia Valentine. She is a single mother of four children, three of whom are primary school students enrolled at the Salvation Army school across her street. Valentine and her family have been living at a property in Pregnant Alley off Orange Street in Belize City renting a wooden and concrete structure for most of their lives. And despite the condition it was previously in, it was home.

Georgia Valentine

Georgia Valentine, Homeowner

“Well, before now I noh have to worry about the rain no more; move mi pikney outta one room to the next. It feels good. And I really appreciate Miss Candice help and everybody help. Thanks to everybody; I feel good.”

Duane Moody

“Did you think that this was ever going to happen?”

Georgia Valentine

“Honestly, no.”

Duane Moody

“Have you been asking for help?”

Georgia Valentine

“Yeah I ask.”

Duane Moody

“And no help neva mi di come?”

Georgia Valentine

“No.”

But her plea for help did not fall on deaf ears because today, she was handed over the keys to her newly restored house and as an added surprise, she received the title to the property. Amy Thomas and her non-profit, Beauty in Belize Inc., purchased the property and through its selection process chose Valentine and her family as the beneficiaries. P.U.P. standard bearer for Mesopotamia, Doctor Candice Pitts, partnered with the non-profit and other donors to retrofit the house with furniture.

Candice Pitts

Dr. Candice Pitts, P.U.P. Standard Bearer, Mesopotamia

“Indeed today, we are handing over a fully repaired and retrofitted house as well as the land, the property to Miss Georgia, who is a single mother of four. It is the end result of collaborative efforts. A partnership that was initiated by Miss Amy Thomas and Beauty in Belize Inc, as well as other local donors; in fact, I have to send a special thank you to the mayor of Belize City who has helped to donate some of the furniture for the interior of the house.”

Doctor Pitts says that while on the ground campaigning, she realised that many persons within the division have not been afforded the opportunity to become homeowners. The goal is to empower the community.

Dr. Candice Pitts

“We know that people like Miss Georgia who live in these communities often find themselves in a kind of entrapment and that entrapment becomes so cyclic that their children find themselves in that entrapment. And so to empower Miss Georgia, the single mother at the age of thirty-five with her own house now and land is a way of giving her and especially her children a fighting chance at life in these communities.”

Duane Moody for News Five.