101: Project Belize

Everyone has those few dynamic, life-changing experiences that they will never forget. For some it is their missions, for parents it may involve their children. For me, at this point in my life, it is composed of the last five days that I spent in a little country down south called Belize.

I signed up for Project Belize not really knowing what I was getting myself into. Honestly though, when I was chosen, the first thought that ran through my head was "awesome! A free vacation to Belize!"

Oh how I was wrong. As described in the link in my previous blog entry, PwC sent nearly 150 interns/staff/partners to Belize to help in the inner-city schools. My team of 40 was sent to Queen's Square Anglican School, one of the more under-privileged schools in the city. For some stupid, typical-American reason I still envisioned a school somewhat similar to, but maybe a little more run down than good ol' Midway Elementary, the school I so fondly attended. Well, upon arrival my jaw literally dropped. This "school" seen in the picture below holds an astonishing nine hundred students between the ages of 5 and 14. Yes, 900 kids.I think the most shocking part of this schoolyard was the back corner where the people who lived behind the wall in the aluminum shacks chucked all of their garbage over the wall and treated Queen's Square as their local dump. This is where kids have to play. But what really broke my heart was when, at the end of the day, the kids found a break in the barbed wire and climbed over the wall to "go home." This was left as their backyard.The project was organized so that in the mornings we were primarily in the classroom teaching the kids about different entrepreneurial and business plan concepts. We had the hopes of teaching them about their potential to be successful and contributing citizens of Belize, as most of the children's education comes to a close at the age of 14 when they can no longer attend school for free. Most families can barely afford a proper roof, let alone thousands of dollars a year per child to attend high school. Despite this roadblock, it was inspiring how eager these kids were to learn. Some were shocked at the idea that they had the potential to be business owners. "Really?? I can do that?" By the end, however, all had their own business plans organized with a fresh dream in their hearts.

Part of the mornings were also broken up into recreation time. We went out to the "field" to play "futball" (which is what we know as soccer) and basketball. The first day was a blast as one of the daily rain showers slammed down on us. Gee, are these kids awesome at soccer. I got my butt kicked! The picture below is of Claire and I after coming in from soccer after a huge rainstorm. Peace up, A-town.The next pic is of one of my favorite little girls, Kenya, just doing some extra math problems for fun. Now when was the last time you remember doing that?Next was lunchtime. Coming from a country where we are all massively over-fed and never left wanting, this was so hard to see. Most came without eating breakfast (and during the school year they often go without lunch as well). Even though most were still very hungry, they would quietly stop eating and save the rest to take home and give to their Mom or other siblings. Once when we were teaching about the different means of managing money (saving, investing, loaning, etc.) we asked what they would do today with $10. You ask any kid in America this question and you would expect to hear to buy "ice cream" or "Hannah Montana CD," or something ridiculously trivial. Well one kid, named Kevin, simply answered "I would give it to my Mom to buy groceries." I don't know a lot in life, but I do know that kids are not supposed to be worrying about feeding their own parents and siblings.

This is Kamau (left) and Kevin (right), the well-mannered, amazingly kind boy of 10 who plays 6 instruments, 3 sports, and has earned the top performer of his grade for the last 3 years.

After lunch the kids were free to leave and we would begin the construction portion of our day. We completely rennovated that horrendous corner seen above, built a new library, painted the outhouse meant as a bathroom, picked up litter, and more. These long hours in the hot sun were not so bad, however; I would have gladly done any form of manual labor for these children.

This project was so rewarding in so many ways. I fear that I may have learned more from these children than they did from me. For instnace, I learned a lot about love. These people are so willing to love, so willing to let you into their lives, and so willing to trust. I have never been so loved in so short a time. From the moment we stepped through the gates they loved us.

During one of the recreation hours I met a girl named Courtney. We talked for a few minutes, she left, and came back saying "here Miss Camille! I made this for you!" as she handed me a heart made out of a pipe cleaner. She had known me for a mere few minutes. She didn't need to "get to know me better" or make sure I was "cool." I didn't need to prove anything to her. And most of all, she wasn't afraid to show me.

This is Courtney holding my pipe cleaner heart that I brought back home with me.

I also learned a lot about living life to the fullest. From my comfortable life in America, I would say these kids have a 'hard life.' But they are so very happy. They laugh, they love, they dance. They want to get to know you, and they care. They care so very much.

This is Sadé (pronounced Shad-ehhh). I tried not to pick favorites, but she was mine. She gave the best hugs, and sure had some sweet dance moves.

From left to right, this is Nyasha, Shanali, and Claire--my three shadows. If you can see in their name tags they fought over who got to "be Camille." They said they were willing to squeeze into my suitcase. I can see it now: "Hey Grandma! Look what I brought back from Belize!"

Aside from the local Belizians, I also made some really good friends who are fellow PwC-ers. I learned that service + hard work + lots of laughs + being willing to let people in is a recipe for some really great friendships. Jessica, seen below, is even working in my office, which I am pumped about.

If you look closely, we are sporting the PwC pride with our "gangster" sings. Man we are cool.

I had a couple hours before I had to leave for the airport to squeeze in a quick trip to Altun Ha, some Mayan ruins about an hour away from the city. It was beautiful, and gave me a glimpse of the amazing sights Belize has to offer. I most definitely will be going back.

This is me in front of the temple dedicated to the sun gods. Apparently the Mayans really like sun, which is fitting, because I do too.

I could tell so many more stories, but I fear I have already rambled on for far too long. I am so grateful for this experience. I wish everyone in the world could at least witness some of the poverty and deprevation so incredibly prevelant in areas such as Belize; I feel such understanding would make everyone a little more grateful for what they have and a little less apt to want. Unfortunately we are all human, and selfishness and closed-mindedness happens. I just pray that whatever form it may be, everyone gets to experience a "Project Belize."