Due to the recent decision by Government to demolish the Belize City Center auditorium and build another similar building in the same spot, the Living Hope Preparatory School, which caters solely to at-risk students and now adults needing aid in literacy, desperately needs $350,000 in funding to acquire land on La Croix Street in Belize City, and construct a building there.
The principal/manager, Reverend Natalie Bowen, told us that they have up until June 14 to move, since the demolition process is well underway at their current location, which they have been working from since a little before 2003.
Visible at the entrance of the school’s office is their motto, which states, “To provide a safe, open and learning centered environment using instructional techniques for at-risk students that will enable them to meet or exceed minimum academic requirement, demonstrate improved behavior and develop skills to become lifelong learners who overcome the academic and social challenges of this community”.
Living Hope Preparatory School offers two classes for at-risk students – first course and second course. The courses are centered around students who failed their Primary School Education (PSE), and those who failed in high school as well; it provides, for example, a chance for the students to move from a standard six-type class to first form in high school, and in some cases, to trade school and directly into the work force.
The school also ensures that adults who are in need of literacy aid are facilitated; this Rev. Bowen told us will help them in their daily lives, especially in securing jobs.
“I took over the school in 2003-04 with a vision to reach the students who dropped out of high school and primary school and get them back into high school or a vocational school. Our vision also increased to working with adults who have reading problems, giving them a chance to secure skills that would help them find jobs.”
The Government of Belize, has been aiding the school with free room and board, even helping with paying tuition for students who cannot afford it. Since the realization that they have to move from their current location, however, Rev. Bowen told us that she has spoken to the Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, in order to help financially with the cost of acquiring a new building, but that she is still waiting for a definitive decision.
“A lot of teachers like working with students who won’t give them trouble; our school caters for students who give trouble, because if they don’t get a second chance, they may end up hurting someone out there, and they will end up turning into real criminals.
“We have seen the news and we have seen young people making wrong choices, and if we give them a chance to redeem themselves, focus on their education and give them a chance to do it all over again, they take it, because no one wants to live a life of crime, to become a statistic. We give them the opportunity and they grab it,” said Rev. Bowen.
Amandala also spoke with a parent of one of Bowen’s students, who told us that she is really glad for the availability of this prep school, since her son, as of last weekend, graduated and is now heading to Canaan High School to further his education.
Out of the 20 students in the class, 18 of them passed; the school normally seats 50 students, and has three teachers, including Rev. Bowen.
“I find the school to be a nice school because the teachers, they are nice everybody is okay. The students, they enjoy themselves with the activities they have. They, the teachers, teach them about God and everything, I don’t have any faults with the school,” said the mother, who wanted to remain anonymous.
When we asked this mother if she had any other options for her son, in the event that this school was not in existence she said, “If he neva get inna this school here, then he wouldn’t of had anywhere else to go, I thank God for the school, that they had it here”.
The Living Hope Preparatory School also supports its students who may not have the support at home, that is, feeding programs, and clothing and shoes programs. In order to assist financially, Rev. Bowen can be contacted at numbers 601-9088/207-0139, and deposits can be made in their Atlantic Bank account #210-564-085.