Mission Trip to Billy White, Belize
As a youth counselor with John Wesley United Methodist Church for the past two years I have learned a lot. The youth have inspired me in so many ways and I'm constantly being motivated to become a better Christian.
After much thought and prayer I have made the decision to go with the youth to Belize to serve on my first overseas mission trip. I can't do it though without your help!
A little about the trip:
Child labor in Billy White, Belize begins at the age of 12 (often younger) when children complete 6th grade and government-provided education ends. Due to the limited resources of families, the children seek jobs in the local chicken farms or tortilla factories, working for $5 USD per week to supplement family income. Without continued educational opportunities, children are trapped with no hope for the future.
Obviously, most families from villages in and around Billy White live in dire poverty and do not have the means to send their children into neighboring San Ignacio (a 45-minute bus ride) for secondary education. Often the cost of secondary education is more than the families annual income. With this bleak picture, it is the goal of ROWKIDS to end the cycle of poverty and child exploitation by giving the children and families of Billy White and the neighboring villages a brighter future.
Since July 2005 an organization now called ROWKIDS has been helping raise money to make sure that the children have the money needed to receive an education that will help them out of poverty. This opportunity has encouraged families to have their children graduate from Billy White with the skills needed to go on to secondary education. In turn, it has also put a strain on the school because now the drop out rate has decreased.
John Wesley Youth along with other teams will go to Billy White Belize to help the school handle the amount of students now at it facility. The projects will include building a new class room, working on teacher housing, and making an outdoor classroom. The team will also interact with the children of Billy White through arts and crafts, English lessons, and sports. All of these building projects and interactions are with the hope that we will have the opportunity to share with the community that Christ calls us to love others and share his love with those who need it.
For information on how you can help, please click on the donate tab on the top left side of the page.
To find out more about ROWKIDS visit www.rowkids.org
After much thought and prayer I have made the decision to go with the youth to Belize to serve on my first overseas mission trip. I can't do it though without your help!
A little about the trip:
Child labor in Billy White, Belize begins at the age of 12 (often younger) when children complete 6th grade and government-provided education ends. Due to the limited resources of families, the children seek jobs in the local chicken farms or tortilla factories, working for $5 USD per week to supplement family income. Without continued educational opportunities, children are trapped with no hope for the future.
Obviously, most families from villages in and around Billy White live in dire poverty and do not have the means to send their children into neighboring San Ignacio (a 45-minute bus ride) for secondary education. Often the cost of secondary education is more than the families annual income. With this bleak picture, it is the goal of ROWKIDS to end the cycle of poverty and child exploitation by giving the children and families of Billy White and the neighboring villages a brighter future.
Since July 2005 an organization now called ROWKIDS has been helping raise money to make sure that the children have the money needed to receive an education that will help them out of poverty. This opportunity has encouraged families to have their children graduate from Billy White with the skills needed to go on to secondary education. In turn, it has also put a strain on the school because now the drop out rate has decreased.
John Wesley Youth along with other teams will go to Billy White Belize to help the school handle the amount of students now at it facility. The projects will include building a new class room, working on teacher housing, and making an outdoor classroom. The team will also interact with the children of Billy White through arts and crafts, English lessons, and sports. All of these building projects and interactions are with the hope that we will have the opportunity to share with the community that Christ calls us to love others and share his love with those who need it.
For information on how you can help, please click on the donate tab on the top left side of the page.
To find out more about ROWKIDS visit www.rowkids.org