It is an old cliché “children are our future” but when the Ministry of Human Development stated in a 2006 annual report that Belize has the highest rate of child abuse in the Caribbean, and reports that one thousand one hundred and two children were placed in institutional care following abuse, incest, rape, physical injury and prostitution, it’s about time that we ask the question, just what have we been doing to protect the country’s future? The Liberty Children’s Home in Ladyville says it has been doing its part. The home is residence to twenty four children who also benefit from educational classes and other services.
This year as their anniversary day approaches, Liberty Children’s Home is now looking to break new ground in its existence. Yes, the facility will continue to provide shelter and care but the institution will be opening its doors to another special group of children. The facility’s director Delfena Mitchell explains.
Delfena Mitchell, Director - Liberty Children’s Home
“One of the special projects that we are working on is expanding our services to children with disabilities. What we want to do is have a place for the children to come while their families are out working, going to school, doing their everyday life. They have a place that they can come here at Liberty and have some kind of stimulation whether it is sensor stimulation, art and dance movement, physical therapy, occupational therapy, we will be working on them. Just a place to have socialization, something that will improve their quality of life rather than just being locked away at home. The foundation’s primary goal is to have these children reunite with their families if not be placed in foster care.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Do you know just how successful the program has been since it started its operations three years ago? Just how many children have left Liberty Foundation and have been placed back into homes?
Delfena Mitchell,
“I will talk about the nine months that I have been here. In the nine months that I have been here we have had two children reunited with their family. I have had one child go with a foster family and is in a process of getting adopted and we have other things in process so for couple of other children.”
Mitchell says most of their residents come through social services and are referred following cases of incest, rape, physical abuse and prostitution. The children featured in the report are boys and girls who are not residents of Liberty Children’s Home but are from the surrounding communities and enrolled in the educational classes.
