The 2020 Belize Project has been a resounding success, thank you to everyone in the community.
This year I was joined by Deacon Catherine Keating and her husband John, who are members of St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church. By mid-February, we have completed the concrete work at Christ the King Anglican Church with the help of eight local volunteers, pictured above.
The other part of the project is to support two university students, one Junior College student and six high school students with scholarships. Several generous donors targeted 10 primary school children and these students are yet to be identified.
140 fruit trees were purchased and being distributed free of charge to schools, churches and farmers.
The final project was to deliver 300 pounds of rice, beans, yellow peas and chicken to three schools to supplement their lunch programs. The donated food will provide lunches for about 200 children for a month at their school.
Deacon Catherine is a long time literacy activist who has been working in Jamaica. This year she brought her enthusiasm and knowledge to Belize. Simply stated, her objective is to make local teachers aware of a reading program whose premise is for students to “learn to read; so they can read to learn.”
Thank you again to everyone who donated to the cause and supported the Belize auction, particularly my wife Maureen who allows my indulgences in the sun while she freezes her butt in Cavan.
By Andy Harjula
