Ecumenical College rallies for a new multi-purpose center

The Stann Creek Ecumenical College opened its doors back in September 1974 through the amalgamation of two high schools, Stann Creek and Austin Highs. It evolved into a community school that today has over seven hundred and twelve students studying technical and academic programs. The school is currently facing financial constraints and is in desperate need of a facility for student activities so it is fundraising for a multipurpose centre. The price tag for the centre is estimated at seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars and to date, the school can only come up with one hundred thousand dollars.

Ray Lawrence, Staff Representative on the Board
“We are appealing to anybody who can assist, especially those people in the business sector. The assistance can be in cash or in-kind—the materials. Right now, the Student body and the Ecumenical family itself has raised a little over one hundred thousand; that money has already been but into the foundation for the multipurpose centre. So if you go to the compound right now, you will see our investment there. So it’s not like we’re just sitting back and waiting and begging; we are working.”

Nadia Caliz, Student Council Moderator
“We know that sometimes when people give, they want something in return and for the upkeep of the building, since the building will be facing the highway, we decided to offer space for advertisement. When you look at the model you will see that we have different businesses there and it’s just a sample for them to see what we can offer them. If you advertise with us that can be seen from like a mile away. So it is something that will benefit you and benefit us as well.”

Ray Lawrence
“This multipurpose facility will house, not only the sporting equipment and program for the high school, but also since it’s multi-purpose, it’s going to house all the cultural events not just of ecumenical itself, but of the entire Stann Creek Community. As you are well aware there is no facility of this nature in Dangriga itself and so having come from the students, we decided as a community school that we’re going to offer this not only to our students, but to the wider Dangriga community and the Stann Creek valley of course.”

Another effort to generate funds is through a fair billed as the Ecumenical Explosive Extravaganza on Saturday that will feature entertainment from Belizean and international artists.