In most cases, we hear about Christmas parties hosted for the City kids. Well, yesterday it was all about the young ones in the south. A Christmas
party was held at the Independence High School Auditorium and 20 kids from 10 different schools in Stann Creek were invited. After the fun activities,
the kids told us this was more than just a party for them.
Packed goody bags; a clown with magic powers, prizes and gifts.
These were the highlights of the Christmas party in Stann Creek today. Over 200 children attended. But while this line up is standard for any kid's party,
it's a totally new experience for these young ones.
Janay Wade - St. Alphonsus R.C School
"It's the first time we came to something."
And that's one of the reasons why the Belize Tourism Board decided to bring Christmas to them.
Courtney Weatherburne
"I know you all usually, or we always report or hear about parties in the city. It's refreshing to know that you guys came down south. Tell us the idea
about choosing the south and the kids here."
Valdemar Andrade - Director, Destination Planning & Cruise, BTB
"We're trying to have this at every port that we would have in Belize, the southern port being the 2nd. And yes, we are trying to ensure that we
decentralize from Belize City. In here especially in the south there are a lot of needy kids, needy communities that we can have an impact on. This is
the kind of thing that this kind of industry will bring in the future. We pushed it this year to ensure that next year we're able to organize it and
show people we are able to bring the communities together."
"It takes a little bit more logistics to do it here because in Belize City schools are all surrounding in the city and it's easy to bus them in. Here
we have to bus them from village to village and then into a central area. The importance of having this event is basically again for the tourism
industry, in particular the cruise industry, giving back to the citizens of Belize, giving back to the kids, including them in something that is
worthwhile. As cooperate citizens and as the industry we're giving back to the kids and particularly to the communities."
And that community outreach was certainly welcomed by the kids.
Julie Villanueva - United Community Primary School
"What we had here, we have some activities which involved clowns and it was exciting. I enjoyed the show.
Janay Wade - St. Alphonsus R.C School
"We got to saw the new schools and we loved the show. We got some gifts and had a lot of fun today."
Courtney Weatherburne
"How did you enjoy the party, what did you like from it?"
Edwin Westby - St. John's Memorial Anglican School
"Everything."
Each child received a gift from Santa. Andrade told us this will be an annual initiative.
Email
Print