Recently most of the news about Social Security's money has been about the millions, 17.1 million to be exact, that lost in the Intelco start-up. Well tonight you can rest assured that you will know where at least $80,000 of your Social Security money is going. The money was given away at a sponsorship ceremony this morning and 7NEWS was there to find out what the money is going towards.
Keith Swift Reporting, [keithkswift@gmail.com]
2-year-old Eric suffers from what is known as Hemeplegia. It is a disorder of the brain which has left the entire left side of his body is weak. As you can see, Eric is literally a handful for his mother Magdeleno Pop. But now with the help of physical therapy from Roxanne Jones, who is a field officer for CARE Belize, Eric is getting back on his own two feet.
Roxanne Jones, CARE Belize
"Eric has challenges with walking and the use of his left arm. So what Mom is taught, is how to stretch his arm and how to get him standing by strengthening his legs and working with his daily."
Magdaleno Pop, Mother
"They went to my house and taught me to how to do the therapy and from then I learnt how to do it."
And CARE Belize will be able to help more children like Eric with $15,000 of your Social Security money. CARE's 15 grand was part of a total of $80,000 handed out today to 5 organizations. $25,000 of which went to the Belize Hemophilia Society. Dr. Miguel Rosado is the group's president.
Dr. Miguel Rosado,
"Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder where whenever somebody gets cut, they cannot stop bleeding. They will continue bleeding. We have seen kids bleeding for three to four days until they receive the treatment. Due to the lack of information and of medication, we are having these types of problems."
Dr. Rosado says today's donation will go towards just that -education. While for Marla's House of Hope it will go for a new roof; San Pedro Town will get more cobble stone streets; and the Ministry of Works will get money for billboards. SSB Chairman Yasin Shoman says the $80,000 is being well spent.
Yasin Shoman, SSB Chairman
"These groups all play an instrumental role in bringing a sense of hope to Belizeans who face challenges in their lives. These contributions being made today are just one of the ways in which we actively participate in the country's sustainable growth and development. Our sponsorship to the social institutions are an investment in our human resources while our sponsorship towards the infrastructure projects are investments in our country's physical development."
The dollar amounts not mentioned in the story were $10,000 for Marla's House of Hope; $5,000 for the San Pedro Town Council's Cobblestone Street Project; and $25,000 for the Ministry of Works' "Horizon 15" Road Safety Campaign.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
