House Raffle raises funds for youth programs

Every year Crimestoppers would raffle a house as a fundraising effort to pay for rewards. This year, an organization that intends on developing the minds of the youth, is picking up the slack. Several churches with the help of kids have built a sturdy wooden house that they want to raffle to the public. According to the Director of the Belize Camping Experience, the funds will go a long way to helping youths across the country.

Alexander Perez, Director, Belize Camping Experience

Alexander Perez

“Build it for Kids is a project under BCE and basically it’s a project of a house—sixteen by twenty-four by fifteen feet high and it’s a way of getting the community involved. We know that if we go and ask you for ten dollars to support a child for camp, you will say you have no money, but here is a way you see volunteers and children building a house. This house was built by seven different churches and seven kids as well that were a part of making this house possible. So people donated nails lumber and we credited most of it. So what you see here is a product that was inspired by other followers of BCE knowing that if we can raise so much money then we can expand this program of reaching the kids in Belize City.”

Leah Perez

Leah Perez, Volunteer, Belize Camping Experience

“Our vision is to see Belize change through the transformation of the children and so we do that through camp programs. We want children to change—change whatever pattern or life they are in now; to start a pattern where they will live a more productive and focus-filled life. We do that through camps and follow up program throughout the year. And we do that in the community—at the churches and local schools and community parks. We partner with people who are already working with the kids and assist them and follow up programs. So it’s not just a one time a year thing but continuously through the year, we’re connecting with those same children.”

Alexander Perez

“What you see is a house that has sixteen windows, fourteen outlets, fourteen lights, it has a washroom finish, it has a kitchen finish and it is a portable house. So whosoever gets the house, we can take it to a property of their choice. So if you ask, how can you get it to San Pedro? We can put it on a freight and from there you’re in charge. If you see people selling these tickets here or a flyer; “Build it for Kids,” that means that those people are selling tickets. The ticket goes like this: for every ticket that you buy, you sponsor a child to go to a day camp and follow up program.”