Children are the face of every country.

In May of 2008 we had an opportunity to crew a film production down in Belize's Seine Bight region. We met many people who were simply wonderful, and a virtual army of children, all of whom were living on the edge. One in particular, a Special Needs child captured our hearts, and the hearts of a crew of 100 jaded professional film makers from around the world. We set out to find a safe home for this Special Needs Child and Schooling. We are happy to report success. It has been a wonderful, trying and rewarding spiritual journey touching the faces of people from around the world. Our hope is that our experience and this web site inspire others to help children and the systems that support them.

As of May, 2009, the child we met in during our production is safely ensconced in a tiny orphanage in Belmopan Belize and attends a Special Needs school daily. He's gaine a couple of inches, has friends and is a very normal little boy of eleven. Kyoko visited his new school, met his new teachers and visited him in the Home. She reports in that he is one smiling happy child who now has a wonderful future.This is a great change for the child we met during our production. Most importantly we are honored that this child chose us to help him.

On the whole, kids in Belize have a great life; Special Needs children don't. It's not a matter of caring, it's a matter of resources, which boils down to money and people. That is where we came into the picture. It took almost a year, but we have had success, thanks to many people and Kyoko's diligence.

Who We Are
BelizeKids.org is run by Kyoko Shinkawa and D. Adair Crow. We are not a Not-For-Profit or NGO. Now that our little friend is safe and sound, our new goal is to shoot a couple of documentaries - one on NaRCIE, the Special Needs Children's Program run by the Ministery of Education in Belize, and another on the incredible volunteers that are so essential in bringing new resources to Belize's (and many other countries) programs for Childen.

Points of Interest and Resources for Help in Belize

• National Resource Center for Inclusive Education
• Marla's House of Hope, Belmopan
• Hosanna Home, Mile 21 Hummingbird Highway
• Liberty House, Ladyville
• Stella Maris School, Belize City
• Belize Tourism Board
  

All of these Homes and Centers are cash strapped and full. Click on any of the links above and you discover how you can donate services and goods direct if you like. If you have any questions, please contact us via mail to rivieramayagrip@gmail.com.

'Bout Belize
-- From Wikipedia: Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Once part of the Mayan and Spanish Empires, it was most recently a affiliated with the British Empire, prior to gaining its independence in 1981. The country is bordered to the south and west by Guatemala, to the north by Mexico, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea.

Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. It is the only country in Central America where English is an official language, although Spanish and Creole are also widely spoken. With 8,867 square miles (22,960 km²) of territory and 301,270 people (2008 est.),[2] the population density is the lowest in the Central American region and one of the lowest in the world. The country's population growth rate, 2.21% (2008 est.),[3] is the highest in the region and one of the highest in the western hemisphere. It remains a Commonwealth realm.

Belizeans are wonderful people - people that will come out in the rain to give directions to lost travelers, help a neighbor throw up a roof or change an engine. Easy going, centered and calm. But it's not all peachy. A rising tide of social ills, unemployment and lack of goverment resources are taking their toll. Especially where Special Needs Children are concerned. Limited Homes to offer refuge and fewer schools to offer education are relegating children to education-less lives. Thats where Belizekids.org come in, and that's where you can make a difference.

Belize (WikiMap)

Belize (WikiMap) Geopolitical

Belize on visual...

Photos by Kyoko Shinkawa © 2008