CitCo Donates Back-to-School Packages to Primary Schools

Summer vacation is coming to an end and schools across the country are already resuming classes. In preparation, teachers are gathering supplies to ensure that students return to a clean welcoming environment. To assist with the process, the Belize City Council has donated cleaning supplies to every primary school in Belize City. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the ceremony today for more details. Here’s the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

For children to learn effectively, they must be in an environment that is welcoming and safe. Ensuring that schools and classrooms are clean is a crucial part of providing a well-rounded education for children. The Belize City Council is donating cleaning supplies to every primary school in the city. Mayor Bernard Wagner emphasizes the importance of a clean environment

 

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“Education is very important. Many times, we have seen where children are in classrooms, but we just can’t have classrooms. We have to have clean classrooms. That is why we felt it important that we provided some cleaning and sanitation supplies as well to, to some of the principals. The thirty-one schools in the Belize City area, we felt it important. It’s the second year we are undertaking this activity.  But it is really a very good activity because it contributes back to cleanliness. We have been singing about cleanliness. You can’t just speak every day about classroom but the classroom noh clean. You can’t talk about that you love Belize City, but you keep Belize City horrible. You have to, we have to be leaders in this culture change that is needed in Belize City in respect of how we keep our city clean.”

 

The donation is equivalent to about three months’ worth of supplies. Principal of Trinity Methodist School, Jamael Campbell says that this donation takes some of the burden off the shoulders of the staff that must prepare the school for the return of one hundred and eighty students.

 

Jamael Campbell, Principal. Trinity Methodist School

“As a primary school, we need the supplies here. Of course, it’s very expensive, very difficult to consume these this time of year. And so this puts us at an advantage that we don’t have to log out and use the phone to actually purchase these in the initial stages of school. So it’s very beneficial to us as a school, the students especially, who will get to benefit from this.”

 

The donation includes a stock of cleaning supplies, as well as school bags, funded by the council and members of the diaspora. Councilor Kaya Cattouse explains how this initiative came about.

 

Kaya Cattouse, Belize City Councilor

“This came after COVID And mostly there were cleaning supplies to ensure that the place was properly sanitized. At the time it was much needed a much needed package. And, it is still a much needed package, keeping the place clean. Clorox wipes different disinfectants school bags paper towels, things of that sort.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.