And while Shyne secures ties with New York City, here in Belize City, the council recognized eleven "sheroes" for the work that they do for the women and children in their community. Each Citco councilor, along with the mayor, carefully selected the women and learnt more about how they give back to those that depend on them. The awardees were also asked to select a charity to give a donation to. Courtney Menzies was at the award ceremony today and has this story.
As Women's Month comes to a close, eleven dedicated stalwarts of their respective communities were recognized today by the Belize City Council. These "sheroes" feed the hungry, work with the at-risk youths, and ensure that young girls have a role model to look up to. And that hard work didn't go unnoticed because, as the Councilor for Women and Children explained, the ladies were handpicked by the City Council.
Natasha Pipersburgh, Councilor, Women and Children
"The councilors along with the mayor, we were tasked with selecting one individual from within the community that we believe has contributed in regards to women and children. And we basically looked within our community and trying not to select individuals that were selected back in 2019, so we were basically tasked with looking a little bit further and getting to know these individuals on a personal level as well. So many of these individuals that were selected today are individuals who, in some way or form, has contributed to some genre in regards to dealing with women and helping them to be more established, molding them to be someone of society."
And some of the awardees included the president of the Senate, Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, Pastor Ruth Pipersburgh, and Nilza Acosta, who has dedicated the last four decades of her life to work with the young people of Queen Square.
Nilza Acosta, Awardee
"I try to look forward to see betterment for the youths, that is my inspiration, that the youths especially, Queen Square, being on the southside, we need more activities for the youths, so that they could come out of what they're in."
"I didn't go to high school, at the age of 13 I started to work, but that inspired me that what I didn't get, for others to get, I try with my kids, I have six kids, I try with them to inspire and motivate them to be better in the community."
"I was surprised when I got called and hear that Mr Pollard nominated me for the award."
And for awardee, Grace Flowers, the violent shooting deaths of her two brothers spurred her into doing whatever she could to uplift her gang-ridden community.
Grace Flowers, Awardee
"I deal with the gang members them again, and youths, we have our own little cadet, which we have every Thursday."
"I was awarded with the Point of Light award from the Queen of England due to the same works I am doing in my community and also by the police department. And I am very honored to receive the award from Mayor Bernard Wagner. He recognized me."
"A lot of people would not to work with the gang members, the young men in society, what made you want to take up the mantel?"
"Because in my area, the Rocky Road here, was really bad. Right now, it calm down thanks to the police department who put a booth in my area. And the guys, when they have problem, they come to me and I help them solve their problems. They look up to me as a mother figure for them. They give me enough respect in my community."
But aside from the plaques, these awardees also chose eleven charities to receive donations from the City Council.
Natasha Pipersburgh, Councilor, Women and Children
"The gist of the whole - or an addition to it - each awardee that was selected today, they were able to select one charitable organization that they would like that fund too so they basically chose where they wanted the $250 - because that's what was allocated to these charitable organizations, they basically chose it, we had nothing to do with that, it was their choice."
The first "Sheroes" Award Ceremony started in 2019, but was put on pause due to COVID.
