Serving Saints International adopts St. Michael’s College
Saint Michael’s College re-opened its doors in 2000. But with the economic downturn the high school has been facing hard times. But the school has gotten a lucky break that can change its woes. This Tuesday, a memorandum of understanding will be penned to provide much needed assistance to Michael’s. After a trip to Belize, US citizen, Jackie Collins, who resides in Houston, formed an NGO for the sole purpose of adopting a school in Belize and St. Michael’s was lucky to be selected. The organization, Serving Saints International, promises to take care of the school’s needs as well as the students’. Collins told us how it all started.
Jackie Collins, Founder, Serving Saints International
“I was visiting Belize about a year and a half ago—the Southside—and I saw a little boy and he ran up to me and he was excited about some tennis shoes he was going to inherit from his older brother and he wanted me to go in the house to look at the shoes and he brought them out and the shoes were old and raggedy and at that moment, my heart was just—I don’t know I just wanted to find something to do to help the children. So I contacted Councillor Espejo and he told me that the education is one of the great needs and the kids can’t afford to go to school. So I decided to form a non-profit to get some funds over here to help the child go to school.”
Roger Espejo, City Councillor
“They would be sponsoring books, office equipment, computer supplies, and uniforms. Also they’ve decided they also want to help with financing and also maybe help with school fees for students who may not be able to afford to come to school right now and that’s one of their primary focuses; to get more kids in school. So, that is something that we have been working on and giving them all the information they need for months now and finally they are here in Belize to sign a memorandum of understanding between Saint Michael’s School and the Serving Saints Ministry and that will take place tomorrow. We will review the M.O.U., make sure that we’re both on the same page and once we read it, review, then at that point we’ll go ahead and endorse it.”
Collins says they are also planning to do some work on the school building in the future. A trustee board will be formed in Belize to communicate with Serving Saints International and facilitate the transfer of donations.
