SCA students travel across country to give service

The Father of the Nation, George Price passed away one year ago on September nineteenth. His passing evoked huge respect and emotions of patriotism and nationalism for the man who led the country to independence and who dominated the political landscape of Belize for decades. To honor his memory, across the country, activities were held as part of the first national Day of Service dedicated to Price. News Five’s Jose Sanchez reports from Saint Catherine Academy. 

Jose Sanchez, Reporting

Hundreds of St. Catherine Academy students and teachers shared their vision of Service day with the community. The classes planned a day that would help different communities.   On the compound some students spent the day on the school compound with infant two students of St. Martins, while others prepared to give to others.

Kimberly Young

Kimberly Young, 1MT, S.C.A.

“Our class is class 1MT. We are taking care packages to the youth hostel. The care packages consist of things that the young ladies will use wisely. We have reading books, exercise books, fantasy jewelry that they can use, we actually have inspirational notes for when they are down they can read them and say okay people really do care about us.”

Jose Sanchez

“The people at the youth hostel sometimes don’t get to see their family members. You seem to put a lot of love and detail into every aspect of your package.”

Kimberly Young

“Yes we try to. Everything is straight from the heart. Our teachers also motivated us because we didn’t spend a lot of money and we are not just giving them old things from our house; we are giving them everything from the heart. And we want them to know that although they might have made mistakes and did wrong things in life, there is always a better tomorrow.”

Glory Okeke

Glory Okeke, 1CM, S.C.A.

“The name of our class is 1CM; our homeroom teachers are Miss Salazar and Miss Burgess. Our class decided to make posters for our Service Day because we think posters are something that every classroom has in this country. And posters are a way of inspiration—posters inspire me personally. So we decided to make posters with inspirational sayings to go to different places like primary schools, the prison and different other facilities that will help to inspire the children. So we think this is a form of service to the community.”

Jose Sanchez

“When it comes to George Price himself, he was all about service. What do you know of him regarding service?”

Glory Okeke

“I think he did what no one else wanted to do. He stepped out; he did something that others will look at as beyond what I can do. So I think that makes him a true hero.”

This fourth form class went to Battle Field Park to feed the homeless.

Jessica Lara, Class 4AB, S.C.A.

“The entire class is out here in order to give back. we always think about the community yes, but today especially because we are doing it in commemoration of George Price and his anniversary.”

Jose Sanchez

“And what made you choose the Battlefield Park?”

Jessica Lara

Jessica Lara

“Because we are aware that there are a lot of homeless people out here and we do think about them and care that they get a meal for the day. So we are just trying to help them at least for today.”

Jose Sanchez

“So you came out twice today; two meals?”

Jessica Lara

“No, just once. But another class came this morning to serve breakfast.”

Jose Sanchez

“Now the whole idea of service of George Price, what does it mean for your class?”

Jessica Lara

“It’s just a way to give back and represent what he taught the entire nation and that we were taking in what he was teaching to us. He was always on the scene so we decided today especially to come out and to represent him basically.”

Horace Hendricks

Horace Hendricks, Grateful for S.C.A. Meal

“Doing good for the homeless; feed the homeless and…”

Jose Sanchez

So you think it is a good idea of service day that George Price started and the SCA girls are doing a good job?”

Horace Hendricks

“Yes.”

Not only an exercise for the city, but the country. This packed van was taking students all the way to Xaibe Village in Corozal.

Eileen Tam

Eileen Tam, 3rd Form, S.C.A.

“Previously, my third form geography class took a trip to Xaibe, a village in Corozal and we went there to interview people and do surveys on how the flood had affected their families and their crops and whatnot. And there were some families who had lost everything and it was really devastating to see those people in need. And so we thought, my art class decided that we would gather up food and toiletries and clothing and donate it to them for our service day work.”

Jose Sanchez

“And gathering all of the different stuffs; was it something difficult? Where did you get the different stuff you were taking today?”

Simone Ysaguirre, 3rd Form, S.C.A.

Simone Ysaguirre

“Umm, it’s not anything difficult. Usually whatever stuff you have left over at home, stuff you don’t use, people can have better use of it rather than throwing it away or discarding it. So we just decided that instead of throwing it away, donate it to somebody who really needs it.”

Jose Sanchez

“And the whole idea of service day, what role does it play for you in all of this?”

Eileen Tam

“Well to me, service day is giving back when you can and as students, sometimes there is not much that you can do, but the little that you can do, can go a long way.”

Jose Sanchez

“Should it be a holiday or continue to be a service day?”

Jessica Lara

“I think it should continue to be a service day because I’m sure that is what he intended.”

If every day was held in service, perhaps positive change would occur in the country. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.