Belize River Valley School students get an early Xmas Gift

There was another Christmas party over the weekend. It took place in Lords Bank, but was for students from Bermudian Landing and Rancho Dolores. The Belize Rural Primary School in Rancho Dolores was recently plunged into grief following an accident immediately in front of the compound, in which a toddler was killed. But over the weekend, the mood picked up and the students had reason to be merry. They were treated to a party by a Good Samaritan. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

Belizean, Verna Young Clement, now resides in the US, but she returned home this Christmas with a special treat for the children in her hometown. Clement held a party for over seventy-five primary schools kids in the Belize River Valley.

Verna Young Clement, Hosted Children’s Party

Verna Young Clement

“I was born in Rancho Dolores and I went to school in Bermudian landing so that’s the reason why I started with those schools. But I’m really going to do all the schools from Flowers Bank back to Rancho. So every year—it’s an annual thing—so every year I want to choose two schools to do this for. It’s my way of giving back. I have migrated to the states like thirty years now so this is my way of giving back because it reminds me of when I was little.”

Clement financed the entire event out of pocket, but there was more than enough food, drinks and gifts to go around.

Verna Young Clement

“When the kids came, me and my daughter and two of my friends, we pinned on their corsages. I did one school in red, one school in green, the Christmas colors. They came in and they sat; there were cookies, there were candies, there were chocolates, there were drinks, there was everything galore for them to take. No one was serving them, they were supposed to eat as much as they could and take as much as they could. After that we lined them up and they started having their lunch.  I remember going to school, playing needle and thread, lime and spoon, sack race and things like that. So I just wanted to bring that to the kids. It’s not like people are doing it for different reason, I’m just doing it for the kids and I also wanted to involve the parents. This time since it was my first time I couldn’t do all the siblings and both parents. So what I did, I had all the kids from both schools along with one parent and the teachers. But next year it’s going to be with both their parents and all the siblings but I just got started.”

Marilyn Lope

The teacher and principal of Belize Rural Primary School were especially moved by the kind gesture, which was a first for their students.

Marilyn Lopez, Teacher, Belize Rural Primary School

“I just want to say that this is a very joyful and happy occasion for us at Belize Primary school. It’s the first time for us that someone from our area went away and had us in heart. As a teacher, I feel very good for the children because, as you can see, they’re all excited, they’re happy and I think this is a very special time for them as for some of them this will be their only gifts that they will be receiving. Probably it will be their only such good food and I know that the children are having fun and I must say that I am very, very grateful for Miss Verna.”

Marilyn Stevenson

Marilyn Stevenson, Principal, Belize Rural Primary School

“I would like to say a great thank you to Miss Verna Clement for this wonderful occasion. I am sure that the parents and the children as well are very grateful to her too. And I believe the children, they will go home and they will feel the spirit of Christmas going along with them because this is something new for them and I believe that they will be looking forward to another one next year.”

Clement says the event will be bigger and better in the years to come. Delahnie Bain for News Five.

Verna Young Clement intends to hold the event on an annual basis, but contributions would be welcomed.