200 kids get Xmas party at House of Culture

Some two hundred children were treated today to Christmas goodies. The party was thrown by the Belize Tourism Board and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association. The children partied for two hours; they danced, ate and had a special presentation by Ozzy the Clown. But that’s not all, the crew from the Norwegian Pearl Cruise Ship made sure none of the students left without a gift. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

Christmas came a few weeks early for some Belize City primary school students who were today hosted at the House of Culture.  It was the annual Christmas party organized by the BTB and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.

Keisha Young-Flowers, Press Officer, Belize Tourism Board

keisha young-flowers

“This is the eighth installment of the Holiday Gift Project and it’s a project that’s collaborated between the Belize Tourism Board and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.  We’ve invited over two hundred kids here with us today and they will be receiving a gift from personnel from off the cruise ship; start their Christmas and basically have a blast.  Ozzy is here.  The kids enjoy him every year so we bring him back and it’s just an event to really and truly have the kids just have some fun.”

charlin saldivar

Charlin Saldivar, Group Service Coord., Norwegian Cruise Line

“NCL is doing this every year and I was so happy when I heard that we’re organizing another one for Belize.  It’s so different when you see those kids receiving even small gifts.  You can really see the smile on their faces.  So everything-actually the toys that we brought here, everything was sent by Miami.  Yeah, they purchased all those toys and send it to the ship so we have it ready before we arrive in Belize.”

It’s a fun treat for the kids, who especially enjoyed entertainment by Belize’s world class clown, Ozzy.

Party Goer #1

“When Ozzy the Clown tek out ih rag miss, and ih jump bout.”

Delahnie Bain

“Everybody is going to get gifts, what do you think about that?”

Party Goer #1

“Everybody is going to get gifts, what do you think about that?”

Party Goer #1

“Dat good miss.  Fi Christmas yoh open it.”

kendra skeene

Kendra Skeene, Party Goer #2

“I don’t care dah weh I get, as long as I get something.”

Delahnie Bain

“So what was you favourite thing about today?”

Kendra Skeene

“Ozzy the Clown.”

Delahnie Bain

“Anything that he did?”

Kendra Skeene

“Yes, di part wit di coloring book.”

Cory Logan, Party Goer #3

cory logan

“When time Ozzy di clown tie di balloon and so.”

Delahnie Bain

“And weh you want out ah dis gifts weh dehn give weh?”

Cory Logan

“Wah toy.”

javier jones

Javier Jones, Party Goer #4

“I love the gifts, the food, everything and I like Ozzy how ih dig ih nose and haul out di thing outta ih mouth.  Everything I like.”

The party is also fulfilling for the organizers and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Charlin Saldivar tells us they’re spreading Christmas cheer throughout the Caribbean.

Keisha Young Flowers

“It’s one of the projects that we really and truly enjoy.  We see the direct impact just by looking at the faces of the kids as they receive their gifts.  They enjoy the food as well and they have fun with Ozzy so it’s something that we make sure that we put on our calendar each year.  They’re all excited and everyone wanted to sign up but unfortunately, we have limited spaces for whoever is volunteering to do the gift giving.  Everybody is excited to do this. I also did one in Roatan last year and for this Christmas, the Norwegian Pearl will be doing Belize and Savannah and the other ship on the fleet will be doing other islands in the Caribbean as well.”

Delahnie Bain for News Five.