School hit by burglars raises funds to recoup

School burglaries have become an all too familiar facet of Belize City life. But beyond the press coverage and indignant words from students and staff, life goes on and those affected are forced to deal with the loss. Today I visited one educational institution that is working hard to regain its balance.

Natalie Lino, Principal, Living Hope Preparatory School
“A few of them had to stay home because there wasn’t any food here to be provided for them and when they come here a meal makes a difference. I don’t know about others out there, but a meal makes a difference to a child who does not have it. And so when they steal the groceries, they took a lot from the children.”

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
For the past three weeks the students of Living Hope Preparatory School have had a difficult time taking classes without the supplies needed to get their work done. On March twenty-sixth, thieves broke into the institution and stole thousands of dollars of school items, including the food used to provide the students with their daily meal. The supplies were a gift from the Angelus Press Limited to the children and staff.

Natalie Lino
“Well a lot of students come to school without supplies, without books, pens, and stuff. They did not get the benefit of using the ones that were donated to us and so we had to purchase it for them. And by taking the groceries, basically when they took the groceries we had to skip some meals for the kids.”

Today the students, who come from difficult backgrounds, are doing what they can to get back what was taken from them.
Although the police have had some leads, none of the items have been recovered and no one has been arrested

Natalie Lino
“They are questioning friends, they are talking to street people. They are trying to get information because they want to know who did this to them because they know the benefit that the school is bringing in their life.”

The children’s parents have been part of the effort … and so has the school’s original benefactor.

Trudy Cutkelvin, Marketing Coordinator, Angelus Press
“How could people do things like that? We were trying to assist them and instead of getting more assistance from the community, you know something like that happens. We were every disappointed.”

On Friday, the Angelus press and the students will be holding a barbeque to try and raise funds to help them recover from the loss.

Trudy Cutkelvin
“We decided that it would be hard for us to actually do the donation all over again. So we thought that a fundraising barbeque sale would turn out better that we will be able to sell some tickets and make more money and be able to get the stuff that they need and other stuff that we will not be able to provide for them at the Angelus Press.”

Natalie Lino says they are now counting on public support to make the drive a success.

Natalie Lino
“Everyone is trying to find out who did this to us because they know that the school is really helping the less fortunate, those who are needy and they don’t want to see it happen again.”

The five dollar barbecue sale takes place this Friday from ten a.m. to two p.m. at the Living Hope Preparatory School situated on the ground floor of the Belize City Centre. If you would like to make a direct donation to the school please call Natalie Lino at telephone number 207-0139.