There are hundreds of disadvantaged children living in residential care facilities across Belize. Most of the children at these centers have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. These children need a loving and caring environment in which to grow and develop, but providing proper care and shelter comes at a cost. The most expensive time of the year for every childcare institution is the back-to-school months.

 

Knowing this, in August of 2016, the Special Envoy in partnership with the US Embassy in Belize and Stationary House organized a Back-to-School Supply Drive to provide backpacks and stationery supplies to children living within childcare institutions.

 

In addition to the Drive, she organized a nationwide tour of the various children’s homes to personally deliver the supplies, interact with the children, and learn more about the needs and progress of the homes from home managers. On day two of the tour, Mrs. Simplis Barrow was accompanied by former U.S Embassy Charge d’ Affairs Ms. Adrienne Galanek. The initiative impacted over 285 children within nine different children’s homes.