Belize is more than crystal, blue water and beautiful beaches. For a group of St. Agnes Academy students, it became a place where life-long memories were made after a summer service project focused on social justice.
"If you visit Belize, you see the beautiful beach. But 10-feet away, there are people in need and the school we worked at, in particular, was very much in need of help," said Senior Katie Rose.
Eleven members of the Academy's Habitat for Humanity student club, led by Rose, traveled to Belize in late June to launch a summer camp at San Pedro Catholic School for some of the community's poorest children. Seniors Kristi Lenderman, Lexi Schmidt, Annie Simpson, Claire Davenport , Olivia Sison, Soha Nassef, Anne Mims, Emma Langley and Kathryn Schroeder, and Sophomore Lauren Dacy.
"Our theme was to create dreams, to create change," Mims said. "We wanted to teach them that they can dream anything, be anything. For them, anything is possible."
Academy students taught up to 22 children during the two camp sessions per day with special classes focused on science, reading, drama, drawing, weather, creative writing and sports. They began each day with a keynote session centering on manners, health, careers ,or expressing individuality. At the end of the week-long camp, everyone, student leaders and students, came together for a community service project - cleaning and beautifying the school campus, including the school's soccer fields.
"At first, we were scared no kids would show up (for the camp)," said Senior Lexi Schmidt. "We were apprehensive that all of the work we were putting in to this would be for nothing, but so many kids showed up. They had fun learning and we learned so much from them."
The group plans to return next summer to sponsor another summer camp since the experience was life-altering for everyone involved.
"This wasn't work," said Senior Olivia Sison. "It was inspirational to watch these kids grow and change as they spent time with us. They learned they can do anything they want to do. They have their own unique, individual talents and can bring whatever those are to help their own communities."
The Academy's Habitat for Humanity student chapter is close to purchasing and building a home for a Houston-area family in need. Through fund rasiers and special events, the group has raised $54,000 toward their end goal.
