Tart Baking and Brand-New Home

Having a stable and secure home can change lives. For many in vulnerable communities, having a roof over their heads opens new opportunities, allowing them to rebuild, grow, and escape the grip of hardship and poverty. Albina Casimiro experienced this firsthand before she became a homeowner.

 

Albina Casimiro, Recipient, Building for Change

“It was really rough. I had to go to work every day and see that my kids had food  on the table, because I was a single mother with five children; Three boys and two girls. The two girls were the youngest when I got this house.”

 

Fourteen years ago, Casimiro seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – a chance to own her own home. Through the religious organization’s Hand in Hand Ministries, their Building for Change program made that dream a reality two years later.

Albina Casimiro

“ I had a bunk bed and a big double bed. So me and the girls slept together and the boys, they used the bunk bed.”

 

Sabreena Daly

“But how did you feel knowing that it was your own?”

 

Albina Casimiro

“I feel happy. I was so happy. So, so happy.”

 

Hand in Hand Ministries started its mission in Belize back in 2002, quickly becoming a beacon of hope for vulnerable communities. In areas where people struggle to gain the skills and resources to escape poverty, the ministry’s work makes a huge difference. Rashida Bethran leads the charge as the director of the Building for Change program.

 

Rashida Bethran, Director, Building for Change, Hand in Hand Ministries

“When families come to our program for support, they are normally at rock bottom. Um, this is normally their last stop. For some type of, um, sustainable living for themselves. And it’s always a pleasure when we can work with these families. Because it’s not only a house. You know, people would see four structures and a roof go up in three days. But it’s more than that for the families receiving these homes. It’s a dream come true.”

 

Twelve years ago, Albina’s dream became a reality when she received the keys to a one-bedroom starter home. She left her nine-to-five job and threw herself into building her own small business. Every morning, she woke up with the sunrise to sell Johnny Cakes, a beloved Belizean breakfast treat. Riding her bicycle through the streets, she called out to say that they were ‘fresh from the oven.’

Albina Casimiro

“ When I used to make Johnny Cakes, I woke up at 1am to knead and bake. Then I left home around 5:30 am to sell. People would hear me when I hollered, “Johnny Cake! Hot Johnny Cake! Right in front of your door—come and get it!” That was my morning slang for selling Johnny Cakes.”

 

Johnny Cakes eventually gave way to a variety of other items on the menu. In her latest chapter, Casimiro became famous for her ‘magic touch’ with pastries. Now retired at sixty-one, she takes great pride in knowing that her hard work was appreciated not just by the organization, but also by her children. Her son, inspired by his mother’s resolve, continued her legacy.

 

Eric Avila, Son

“My mom said she’s about to retire, so I told her, let me try it because she would always say to stop working for other people. I said, I’ll go and try it and I did. I tried it, and I fell in love with it. Every day, this is what I do.”

 

Sabreena Daly

“Were you in the kitchen prior to this?”

 

Eric Avila, Son

“No, no, I liked the kitchen for eating. When it’s time to eat, I like being in the kitchen. I didn’t like cooking, but then my mom said, Come learn something. And now, It’s been one year since I’m baking tarts. That’s what I do now.”

 

Even after twelve years, Casimiro’s impact is still very much alive in the Building for Change Program. After receiving the keys to a home, she embraced empowerment sessions provided by the administration and even joined efforts with other women to pay it forward. They proudly call themselves the Women Leadership Group.

Rashida Bethran

“They understood the feeling they got when they received their home, that safety. And they wanted to give that same safe haven to our next family in need. They’ve formed a group with their leadership skills, and they’ve ventured into fundraising efforts. As a matter of fact, we have an upcoming fundraiser, the 15th of February, downtown, Brody’s, where they’ll be doing a bake sale. All of these efforts are towards our pool, to build a home for the next deserving family.”

Albina Casimiro

“I told them I could make tarts, and they said, Okay. They asked if I would donate the tarts, and I said yes. So, I donate 200 tarts every time we have a fundraiser—200 tarts, 100 lemon pies, and 100 tarts.”

 

When resilience, determination, and empowerment come together, the possibilities are endless. Casimiro’s story is proof of this, showing that the rewards of hard work can be shared with others. Twelve years later, life still brings its challenges, but it’s a far cry from where they began. The single mother turned the tarts her family baked into the means to secure her children’s education and even grow the home they once received.

Rashida Bethran

“The house has been a stepping stone for her and her family and if you notice, her house has grown. We gave her a 16 by 16, now it’s,  I don’t know, 16 by 16 times 2.”

 

Eric Avila

“ It wasn’t easy but we have come a long way.  When we made Johnny Cake, it was really hard. I watched my mom cry. I had to get up and sell the Johnny Cakes and still go to school. People didn’t know the struggles. That’s how I know my mom loved me. She always talks positively about me because it wasn’t easy. It was rough. So every day I just sit and bake.”

 

Every tart they bake, and you buy, is a delicious reminder of empowerment, family, and sacrifice. This Belizean dessert tells a story with every bite. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.