The International Service Committee on Monday voted to assist in the development of resource centers in Belize. The Sylvania Rotary Club had developed this project during the past several years of involvement in Belize and just this past February their Club sponsored a Team trip to implement the first Resource Centers. A document detailing the work that the Team did in developing the Resource Centers and describing how the Centers function can be seen on the Lima Rotary Club website at www.LimaRotary.com under the International Services tab.

The Resource Centers are to be developed in the Spanish and Mayan Communities of Cayo District in Belize. Since the official language in Belize is English and that is the language, which is utilized in their schools, the Spanish and Mayan communities are at a disadvantage when their children start attending school and they aren't conversant in English.

The primary purpose of the Resource Center is to provide a program whereby mothers can come with their preschool children to be exposed to English prior to entering school. The Resource Centers will also offer many secondary benefits: computer classes, arts and crafts, tutoring, English classes, a library, etc. Just as important is the overall community control and involvement in each Resource Center. The end result will be raising the standards of education and socialization within their community.

Mel Honig with the Sylvania Rotary will be traveling to Belize in late June to hopefully install equipment and furniture for four additional Resource Centers. Attached please find a listing of items needed at the MESA Findlay warehouse by mid-May in order to be shipped to Belize.

If you can contribute any of the items on the attached list please contact my office. There is also the opportunity for at least one person to participate on the trip in late June to install the equipment.

The Committee looks forward to sharing additional information on this project with you during the next few weeks.