Anyone who watches the evening news has heard of Bailar - the embattled community at the Southern end of Mayflower Street - that's been the site of shootings, battles with police, and open warfare. But while that's what makes the news, for those who call Bailar home, it's simply a community of relatives, friends and peers - forced to survive under the rugged street code of Belize City. That can be a grim outlook particularly for children, and this week the National Organization for the Preventions of Child Abuse, NOPCA, made a special intervention, with a special summer camp for those children. I visited as the event wound up this afternoon and found that - thought it was only a week - the summer programme could make that singular difference for these children:
Indira Craig reporting,
Indira Craig
It was a camp tailor made to suit the needs of some very special children from the Mayflower area. Fifty-two children were singled out and given a personalized opportunity for some down time away from perils of their neighborhood. It's all a part of the work being done by NOPCA, which has been actively working in the Mayflower community.
Woman
We are working right now in the Bailar community, right. A group of NGO's and other concerned citizens decided that we were just targeting that population especially because of all the crime rate and everything, you know. So, part of it is we decided to have a summer camp. One of the main concerns that the residents of Mayflower Street had was having to pay to attend a summer camp but this one was free and so everybody just came out and everybody just participated as much. We did it different this year because a usual summer camp would include arts and crafts and things like that, you know, but under normal circumstances these children wouldn't have the opportunity to go, to get to know the city and all that so that's what we decided to do this year.
Indira Craig
But while it was only a week of getting to know the city, it was time enough to make a tangible difference in the lives of these kids who benefitted from some lasting first time experiences.
Student #1
I enjoyed when we gone da di zoo.
Indira Craig
What was enjoyable about that?
Student #1
Because we si di Toucan and the Tapir.
Indira Craig
Was it your first time at the zoo?
Student #1
Yes maam, it was my first time.
Student #2
We learn about NOPCA, we went to the complex building and we learn about all the passport business and things like that.
Student #3
It make me feel good because deh kids, some of my partners never know a lot 'bout maya and now dey learn lot 'bout it now.
Indira Craig
Is this your first summer camp that you have done since school closed?
Student #2
Yes maam.
Indira Craig
How was it?
Student #2
Fine.
Indira Craig
What was the best part?
Student #2
The best part was when we went to the zoo.
Indira Craig
So while today's trip to the zoo was considered hands down the most enjoyable, the last four days had highlights of their own. One parent who accompanied her two kids on this week-long city tour was grateful for the special focus given to her area.
Parent
I think it wa benefit them something because deh learn wa lot and deh been to places deh never been before. First time deh get work inna one community together at one time because nobody never do that before.
Indira Craig
And that special focus will no doubt go a long way especially for those 52 happy faces.