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Women’s Month: Ivorine Bulwer

HighlightsWomen’s Month: Ivorine Bulwer

Photo: Ivorine Bulwer

by Kristen Ku

BELIE CITY, Thurs. Mar. 2, 2023

There are a number of special observances during the month of March, but one of the most notable is the celebration of women that takes place throughout the month.

In many parts of the earth, for a very long time, the accomplishments and contributions of women have been overlooked or ignored. In particular, in our country of Belize, there are many women worth celebrating, and for that reason, in every Friday issue for the month of March, Amandala has decided to write about a woman worth highlighting.

This year, the theme for Women’s Month is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” a theme that will rightfully encapsulate many journeys that women are experiencing or have experienced. A theme that will resonate with readers as they listen to each story.

This week, we would like to honor Ms. Ivorine Bulwer.

Ms. Ivorine Bulwer holds the position of executive director and a nurse/midwife at Help Age Belize. She is a registered nurse/midwife but also graduated from the University of the West Indies with a postgraduate degree in business administration.

Bulwer served in the Orange Walk District as matron of the hospital for over 6 years, as the director of nursing services at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for 8 years, and also at the Belize Cancer Society.

Ms. Ivorine grew up in a large family. A family that was always encouraging of her dreams and one that pushed her to be better and a person of integrity. It was the influence of her family that taught her to care. Being around a family that cared and shared that love, helped her as she pursued nursing, a field in which she excelled.

She recounts how fortunate she has been to be provided with education to help others, so much so that she has felt obligated to give back to her community and serve.

However, the most important obligation she felt she had was to set an example for her daughters.

In striving to do this, she took the time to find out who she was as an individual. She would learn from self-help books and books that helped her reflect and empowered her as a woman.

She also learned by observing others, by learning from her mistakes and the mistakes of others.

“You have to understand who you are, what you’re worth, what you deserve. You need to get to know who you are, what you’re all about,” she said.

Seeing more women take on occupations that are normally “not for women,” she states, is something to be happy about. However, she wishes for more from women.

“I would want to see more of our women not only talk about togetherness but show togetherness. Be there to help your brothers and sisters. I would like to see more of our women operate with dignity,” said Bulwer.

Bulwer says her role models have included her mother, who believed in her, but also the nurse mentors who have surrounded her throughout the years, who are strong women, and who moved around with dignity.

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