(1888PressRelease)
June 24, 2009 - The launching of the project was celebrated by around 200 guests from the community villages and emotionally moving speeches were presented by Ms. Guillermina Heredia, representing The Ministry of Health, Susanne Jensen, Country Director Humana People to People-Belize, Mr. Jones, chairman Carmelita and Mr. Uck, one of the Area Leaders of Child Aid Belize North.
Child Aid Belize North has managed to enroll about 950 families. When UNICEF predicted in its 1990 State of the World’s Children report that 100 million children would die of diarrhea, malnutrition and other preventable diseases within the next decade, The Federation, Humana People to People responded by developing and implementing Child Aid projects across Southern Africa. Now, 18 years later, it is needed more than ever to hold on to the long term development programs for enhancement of the living conditions for children and their families, as it is also expressed in the Millennium Goals. The headline upon which Child Aid Belize draws strength on addressing the children centered development challenges for sure fits the war ahead, Child Aid in the fight against poverty, for the lives of the children!
Thus recognizing poverty and its consequences that they are the biggest threats to a child’s health and survival, the Child Aid project addresses the issues of child development by involving the surrounding community, the families, and the children themselves in a comprehensive program focused on education, basic health and hygiene, improved nutrition and income generating activities.
Humana People to People members operate 40 Child Aid projects in 15 different countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The objective of Child Aid is to work with children, families and communities to improve the children’s living conditions and create opportunities for the children to develop and use their fullest potential.
Humana People to People’s headquarters are in Zimbabwe. In July 2008 the project leader started all necessary preparations for the new project in Orange Walk/ Corozal Districts visiting villages, village chairmen, church leaders and Government offices with the purpose of introducing the Child Aid project and gets a feed back from the community.
Many community meetings took place and after 3 months Child Aid Belize North is a project that is commonly welcomed by all the key stakeholders in Orange Walk and Corozal Districts. At the time of the inauguration in the beginning of October there were 775 families enrolled in the project. That is families who have signed up to do that extra effort that is needed to improve life and living conditions of children.
The project will soon also involve families from Trial Farm, August Pine Ridge, San Roman and from Corozal District; Caledona, Cristo Rey, San Pedro, Xiabe, Patchacan and Chan Chen. The first activity the families will do, besides participating in cleaning actions in the communities, is to start up
organic vegetable gardens.
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