Belize Orphanage Support
Donation protected
I spent the Christmas holiday week with the residents and staff of Liberty Children's Home in the poor village of Ladyville outside of Belize City, Belize. To protect their privacy, photos of the children are understandably prohibited, but that burdens me with the impossible task of using my written words to convey what only a photo, or more likely, a face-to-face interaction, can do to capture my experience at this remarkable place.
I will, instead, just convey as best as I can, a picture of a child who has only known neglect or abuse, experiencing, some for the first time, a Christmas morning that in most ways is not unlike every other morning they have experienced since they came to this place: wake up at 7am; morning chores; a simple breakfast. This morning is similar, too, in the most important of ways because here the child is safe from the abuses that brought him here. Today, she will not experience violence or neglect. This is what makes this place unique in the most crucial way. The selfless caregivers who staff this modest facility will do their best to show compassion and love and genuine concern for each of the children in their care, something most of us take for granted.
For my part, I watch in awe of the caregivers and support staff as they tend to the needs of each child, age 4-19. I help a young boy with a severe mental handicap that inhibits his speech construct a battery-powered robot spider. When we finish the project, my patience is spent; but when he takes it to show his older sister, age 14, also with a disability and infected with HIV, I am humbled with my own insignificance.
If you're still reading, I ask that you consider a contribution to a small fundraiser that I've launched. I'm trying to raise more than $3000 to fund a few helpful initiatives in support of Liberty Children's Home. First, I would like to provide each of the caregivers and support staff a 'holiday bonus' of at least $100. These selfless heroes earn very little and are often living hand-to-mouth in support of themselves and their own families. Additional funds would grow that bonus as well as fund other helpful projects (i.e. garden and chicken coop that would provide meals for the children).
Please join me in supporting this endeavor. If you have any questions about my experience or the purpose of this project, please message me directly and I promise to reply.
Thanks,
Aaron
I will, instead, just convey as best as I can, a picture of a child who has only known neglect or abuse, experiencing, some for the first time, a Christmas morning that in most ways is not unlike every other morning they have experienced since they came to this place: wake up at 7am; morning chores; a simple breakfast. This morning is similar, too, in the most important of ways because here the child is safe from the abuses that brought him here. Today, she will not experience violence or neglect. This is what makes this place unique in the most crucial way. The selfless caregivers who staff this modest facility will do their best to show compassion and love and genuine concern for each of the children in their care, something most of us take for granted.
For my part, I watch in awe of the caregivers and support staff as they tend to the needs of each child, age 4-19. I help a young boy with a severe mental handicap that inhibits his speech construct a battery-powered robot spider. When we finish the project, my patience is spent; but when he takes it to show his older sister, age 14, also with a disability and infected with HIV, I am humbled with my own insignificance.
If you're still reading, I ask that you consider a contribution to a small fundraiser that I've launched. I'm trying to raise more than $3000 to fund a few helpful initiatives in support of Liberty Children's Home. First, I would like to provide each of the caregivers and support staff a 'holiday bonus' of at least $100. These selfless heroes earn very little and are often living hand-to-mouth in support of themselves and their own families. Additional funds would grow that bonus as well as fund other helpful projects (i.e. garden and chicken coop that would provide meals for the children).
Please join me in supporting this endeavor. If you have any questions about my experience or the purpose of this project, please message me directly and I promise to reply.
Thanks,
Aaron
Organizer
Aaron Kohler
Organizer
San Antonio, TX
