Former Student Surprises School with Free Feeding Program  

It is next to impossible for children to learn while they are sitting in class on an empty stomach.  For some students at Saint John’s Anglican Primary School in Belize City, it’s an everyday reality. While the school attempted to assist these students through a feeding program, many were still unable to afford it. Today, that problem is no more, after a former student and entrepreneur offered to sponsor the program and renovate the school’s kitchen. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended a ceremony where the big reveal was made. Here’s that story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

At St. John’s Anglican Primary School in Belize City, there are currently one hundred and seventeen students enrolled. It’s an insignificant number at first glance, until you realize that forty-two percent of the student body finds it difficult to acquire three meals a day. Darlene Belgrave, principal of St. John’s Anglican, told us that it is important that the needs of students in small schools such as these, aren’t overlooked.

 

Darlene Belgrave, Principal

“You said it right. the smaller the school, the more it struggles, especially from the area where they come from, many of our parents don’t have a job and it’s hard for them to find school fees for their children, find food. And so, um, I do glad when I reach out to the community and they would come and collaborate and give us back.”

 

 

 

 

The school attempted to address this problem through a feeding program. For just three dollars, students were provided lunch. But even at this low cost, nearly half of the students enrolled in the program could not afford to pay. It was from this heartbreaking discovery that former student and teacher, Stephanie Crawford realized that she had to step in.

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Crawford, Belizean Entrepreneur

“This school is a school that has my heart. I used to attend this school when I was a little girl. I completed my bachelor’s at the University of Belize, and I came back to teach here for a period of three months. And that’s where I saw the need of the children. A few children didn’t have food. food to eat. And it started as young as age five. And you know, that’s something that real estate on my heart. I said, as soon as I’m in a position to be able to donate, I will donate.”

 

 

 

Just under two years ago, Crawford launched Face and Body Painting BZ.  The business has taken off well throughout the country. It is through this success that she was able to partner with Caribe Blue casino to renovate St. John’s Anglican School’s kitchen and sponsor the feeding program for an entire year. The renovations were completed on Thursday and so a small ceremony was held this morning to commemorate the occasion.

 

 

 

Stephanie Crawford

“So today we refurbished the kitchen and we’re reopening it. And we’re also starting a new feeding program. They had a feeding program here before, but the children had to pay 3 in order to enroll in a feeding program. And some children could not meet that amount, even though the school tried their best. So we’re going to make the feed in program free for one year. It’s like a pilot program, and we’ll see how well this goes. And if it goes well, we’re going to see how long we can continue this program.”

 

 

 

The renovated kitchen was repainted, equipped with a brand-new stove, and a fan to keep it cool while in use. The ceremony held this morning was to reveal the new kitchen to the students, but also to surprise Belgrave, who had no idea about the sponsored feeding program Crawford planned to implement.

 

 

 

 

 

Darlene Belgrave

“Wow. I did not know, that was a surprise. And so thank you, miss Steph. Our children would really appreciate that. Because many of the times they don’t come to school because of a meal that they cannot get. I’m very grateful for her.”

 

 

 

The team will be doing its best to provide hearty and healthy meals for the children. Crawford says that if this first round goes well, it will be extended to providing breakfast as well.

 

Stephanie Crawford

“So we’re going to be preparing a menu. However, the menu so far has things like rice and beans, a mixture of hot dogs spaghetti. We’re adding a lot of fruits and vegetables as well for the program that we’re starting is only going to be lunch. But depending on how well it goes, we will be looking into providing breakfast and lunch, you know, breakfast will be a whole meal, such as such as maybe avocados, toast, bread, a little bit of fruit and, you know, some fruit juice for them to drink early in the morning.”

 

 

The bond between the former student and principal has only grown with time, as Belgrave says that she considered Crawford a friend. She explains that she endeavors to impart a spirit of kindness and friendship in all her students so that they may grow up to be good citizens and give back to their communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darlene Belgrave

“I was sharing with my student, one of my motto was in friendship we meet, in friendship we part. When Steph was a student, she was an a plus student. And as a teacher when she came back, I treated her as an adult. I did not be her boss, I was like a friend to her, and so I shared with them that when you be good to people, in return they will come back and do the same thing. I always ask them that one of our goals as a teacher is not the million dollars that we make or a thousand dollars, but doing good, seeing your student contribute positively to society, and especially when they come back and give to the place that they got their educational foundation. So it is a joy for me.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.