The Hector Hoare Resource Center at Stella Maris

A lab at the Stella Maris Primary School in Belize City was transformed and today officially opened earlier today. It is the proud accomplishment of resourceful teachers and staff of the school who were inspired by a visually impaired activist, Hector Hoare. Fittingly so, the resource center is carrying his name. Duane Moody dropped by for the opening of center which took a year to complete.

Nicolette Forman, Reading Resource Room Teacher, Stella Maris School

“All we had in here was one bookshelf along with some very outdated resources. So when we first came in, the first thing we needed to do was to figure out how we would fill the space. We took a trip to the library over there and we got some ideas and we said okay this is definitely a project that we can do. So myself along with my class, we packed everything away and we started to solicit funds, solicit books—anyway that we can so that we could get this project on the way. So we had the tiling of the lab, new equipment donated and due to the funds given to us by Mister Cowo, we were able to furnish the place, get the bookshelves, all the amenities; everything that you see here.   The task was monumental. At some times, I felt frustrated,. I said you know what this is too much that I took on, but finding out who Mister Hoare was…like I said I didn’t meet him when he was alive…but speaking to people who knew him, I found out that this man was remarkable. Though he was blind, he was not limited by his blindness. So I said you know what, I would have no limitations for this either. So I went above and beyond—myself along with the principal and so many others—to make the library/computer room into the newly designed Hector Hoare Resource Center.”

Evan Cowo, Director, CARE-Belize

“Hector Hoare was my very good friend, he was my confidant, he was my advisor. We worked many years together when I was a teacher of the blind and visually impaired.”

Duane Moody

“What does it mean to have a resource center named after your friend?”

Evan Cowo

“It means that his legacy is going to live on and it is well deserved. I applaud the architects of these ideas and Hector Hoare really did play a major road; paved roads for children and persons with disabilities. He was always at the forefront fighting for rights—not only for blind people, but for all children with disabilities. And so it is just so fitting that he is being honored today with a resource room on his name.”

Nicolette Forman

“We do so much behind here and this is just one of the many things that our children can do. The paintings on the wall is what my children did; they are artistic. They are able to do things that you yourself wouldn’t be able to imagine just like Mister Hoare. So it was very fitting to dedicate this library/resource center in his name for the other children to enjoy.”

The resource center will be open to the students of Stella Maris, parents and the general public.