The legacy of the late filmmaker Robert Foster lives on through his wife and creative partner Carol, who has teamed up with NICH and the Ministry of Education and Culture for a project called: "501 WILD."
Today we got a first hand look at the Foster archives and some of the work they have compiled over the years documenting wildlife in Belize.
Jomarie Lanza was at the opening of the exhibition and here's her report.
What do you get when you blend art, science and history? A project called Wild 501. It's a product made up of a collection of nature documentarians Carol and Robert Foster's life long work, a series of films and images that beautifully capture the "wild" and beating heart of Belize's jungles, rivers, and marine life. Now students and nature lovers will be able to access these films, some of which have been sitting in the Foster archives for the past 42 years.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education, Culture, Science and Technology
"When we talk about the soul of Belize we often speak of our music, our food, our history but there is another side to our national identity, one that Carol knows very well. That breathes in the canopy of the rainforests and pulses through the rivers of our caves for over 30 years that wild heart has been beating in front of a sense held by 2 extraordinary people Carol and Richard Foster. To many of you the name Foster is synonymous with those breathtaking images that make us pause and realize just how lucky we are to call this land home."
The project features 6 original short films and 20 curated photographs, all digitized and cataloged to preserve their integrity.
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education, Culture, Science and Technology
"But WILD501 is more than just an exhibition or a gallery of pretty pictures; it is a living, breathing archive. It is a monumental effort to catalog, digitize and preserve a cinematic history that belongs to all of us. The Foster's did not just come here to film Belize they chose to be Belize they made this wild landscape their home and their lifestyle mission as award winning film makers for giants like the BBC and National geographic they acted as our global ambassadors through their eyes the rest of the world caught it's first glimpse of our hidden stories the intricate, delicate and often fierce reality of our ecosystems. And let us not forget their impact was not just on the screen the fosters were the foundational catalysts for the Belize zoo they ensured that the creatures they documented wouldn't just be flickering shadows on a television set but living beings with a voice and a sanctuary for generations to come."
And that's exactly what Foster had in mind when she embarked on this project with MOECST and NICH: to ensure that the future generations will be able to access these historical resources and extraordinary pieces of work that you cant find in a textbook.
Carol Farneti Foster, Wildlife Documentary Filmmaker
"I was so happy because my intentions were to get it to the department of education and to give it to them and I needed some money to help me hire somebody to help me do this so that was my intention, to get it to schools and so I cut short pieces of wildlife that we filmed and so it worked out but it was time consuming. We got it we got it."
Reporter
"So are you satisfied with the outcome of this project?"
Carol Farneti Foster, Wildlife Documentary Filmmaker
"Oh my god this is the first time I saw it I didn't see it before and it is amazing they did a great job, they did a real great job. I just don't know how to express myself but iIm not going to cry though."
Reporter
"Does it make you feel nostalgic to see all these pictures?"
Carol Farneti Foster, Wildlife Documentary Filmmaker
"Oh yes, well these some of these were film so I had to scanned them and that's how I got them up so."
The videos are available now on the 510 Academy Hub.
Stem U Students Return From Welding Program In The US
Two weeks ago, we told you that students from St Ignatius High School in San Ignacio were headed to the US as part of the Stem U Foundation's global exchange. These students were all a part of a welding program and this cohort included mostly girls. Well, today, they returned to Belize with big goals for their future. Courtney Menzies met them at the airport and has this story.
7 St Ignatius High School students jetted off to North Carolina on March 9th as a part of Stem U Foundation's global exchange. These students - who include 6 girls and 1 boy - are part of the welding program and today, they returned to Belize energized and encouraged to keep pursuing their dreams.
Bettina Myers, 4th Form Student, St Ignatius High School
"This experience has been very enlightening and empowering because when we went there we saw a lot of women that are specialists in their field and it encouraged me more to continue this study and maybe own my own business."
Courtney Menzies
"What inspired you to get involved with StemU in the first place?"
Bettina Myers, 4th Form Student, St Ignatius High School
"When I was in second form, they just put in the new welding and so when I saw them doing their open day presentations I got really inspired to do it as well. I learned how to work together as a team because if I didn't work together as a team I wouldn't be here with my classmates and how to fix my welds and make sure they are good enough because if I want to do a business, they have to be well enough to sell them. One of the highlights was when we went to like an open day with all the different companies and colleges and universities that do welding, NDT and the whole STEM program. We met a lot of new people, a lot of different kinds of people, everyone thinks different, you learn how to think from different people's perspectives."
Courtney Menzies
"Do you see yourself one day attending one of these universities?"
Bettina Myers, 4th Form Student, St Ignatius High School
"Yes I was actually looking at multiple universities and I think I'm going to apply."
Jacey Moro, 4th Form Student, St Ignatius High School
"It encouraged us to know that we as women, as young girls can contribute to the society as a welder."
Reporter
"What made you interested in becoming a welder, in welding?"
Jacey Moro, 4th Form Student, St Ignatius High School
"I didn't really know what I was getting into welding, I just saw it and took it as an opportunity. it's very interesting, I love the time, the patience and techniques you can use as a welder. There's many opportunities in the world for a welder, especially the girls."
Courtney Menzies
"What was your favorite part of the trip?"
Jacey Moro, 4th Form Student, St Ignatius High School
"Visiting the welding sites and also going to the PSA, the PSA is the American airline company."
This is the second time Stem U has collaborated with St Ignatius High School, and the trip was about more than just schooling. She added that this now paves the way for other Belizean students and principals.
Jeaneane Neal, Principal, St Ignatius High School
"We were also privy to meet our ambassador in Washington DC who allowed the students and us to visit the OAS, the World Bank and he also, Ambassador Nestor this is, who we all know, very fond of education and quite impressed with the amount of girls that went and saying we need more in our country so our educational field trip as I call, their experience is not just for St Ignatius High School, it's for the country of Belize, all my colleagues, all the high schools, I represent all the principals, and as the chair of BAPS, I will in turn deliver my experience. Vocational studies as well as academics is very important in our country. Having them being disciplined in this field, for me, was a great experience. Seeing what they do, doing their own little competition with the other students from other colleges was quite impressive and I must give thanks to especially Stem U foundation and their team."
"Too Fat" For The Force?
Tonight, some recruits have been sent home from the Belize Defence Force Training even after passing their entrance exam. Why you may ask? Their fitness level is not up to par and neither is their body mass index.
Simply put, they are overweight and not able to handle the tough training.
One mother contacted our newsroom saying she was disappointed as her son was ready to serve the country.
Well one's readiness must also be shown in their fitness level and the Brigadier General Anthony Velasquez said it's all about raising the bar of the soldiers:
Brig. Gen. Anthony Velasquez, Commander - BDF
"Everyone who applied and they showed up for the assessment at the various locations throughout the country were subject to a physical assessment, medical screening and a psychological screening. Also, they took an aptitude test, they had to bring a mobile device, they took an aptitude test which tested their academic ability but also potential skills they have that are needed in the Defense Force."
"Some applicants that were selected on the selection day may not because of the in depth nature of the assessment now they may not qualify. When we recruit people, we're asking for 150 recruits in total, however due to the demanding nature of the training, these young individuals, everyday we lose a certain amount of people for various reasons, mental or physical, they cannot keep up with the training and they willingly decide to leave or because of our in depth assessment we deem them not physically or not mentally able too continue trending and also there's a moral aspect as well because once these individuals if they have a police record or some record of involvement with the law then again they're denied entry so and we are just enhancing what has been in place before and we are re-enforcing those rules and regulations."
But the silver lining is that if the recruits fit the criteria by the next intake, they will be automatically accepted again. The Brigadier General says that they are doing it for their best interest:
Brig. Gen. Anthony Velasquez, Commander - BDF
"All of them who were sent home had BMI which were high pass the standard so these individuals were sent home, taken out of training and sent home and the aim of that is to protect the organization and them because people who are overweight have a higher tendency to be injured and so they have a high risk of of being injured and like I mentioned the training is very very arduous and very physically demanding. We do not want to put these people at risk, these young people so they get injured, so it was decided that they should be released from training however they have the option of returning. Our next intake is sometime scheduled for later this year maybe October thereabout and they have the option of returning. Their space is guaranteed in the next intake should they go back home and then get in shape and they have the option of returning and their space is guaranteed."
