By Joni MIller | Projects Director
"Start strong and end strong" is the motto of Ocean Academy's Spanish teacher and Sports Coordinator, Mr. Carlos Leal. These words continue to motivate and inspire all of us as we move into the last month of classes and exams at OA. Mr. Leal is true to his word, as he won 2nd place in a push-up contest for teachers just last week at the National Teachers' Day Rally in Belize City! OA students have achieved great things since the start of the school year.
Mikhail and Cristian represented Belize as Central American Youth Ambassadors. The national selection process was rigorous and included written essays and panel interviews, and the judges commended the boys' self-confidence and strong communication skills. They spent three weeks in the USA studying Entrepreneurship and Leadership at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and visiting projects in other states.
OA students placed 3rd in the Belize Youth Innovation Challenge, with their creative technology solution to the challenge of increasing literacy nationwide and also promoting financial literacy. The OA team - Daniela, Luis, Dylan, Ajay, Teoni - created a website www.storyville.xyz and talked about the power of social enterprise for financial literacy. OA students thrive in this challenge, and teachers are impressed with their dedication, teamwork, and of course, innovative and creative ideas. OA teams in previous years presented proposals to reduce youth unemployment (1st place), increase youth engagement in education (1st place) and address the issue of crime.
We are so proud that our Fine Arts elective program is developing. OA students could choose to take a weekly class in guitar, djembe drumming, pinata making, theatre, latin and modern dance, arts and crafts. Community volunteers, as well as instructors from the mainland, made this possible. Luis and Joshuan love guitar class so much that they plan to buy their own guitars so they can practice at home. By leading one of our school social enterprises, Bike with Purpose, they are earning and saving up to reach their goals.
The Belizean Department of Youth Services awarded Rubiceli a Youth Resiliency Award. Rubiceli is an amazing young woman who is committed to completing her education and overcoming challenges and obstacles. She is the leader of OA's Girls Rising Club Empowerment Club, and already the girls have welcomed guest speakers about domestic violence, participated in yoga and meditation workshops, repainted the school bathroom with affirmations and motivational images, marched with others in Belize City at the 20,000 Strong Women's Empowerment Rally and an OA senior student spoke on stage, and formed partnerships with similar Girls' Clubs in San Pedro and Dangriga. Now the OA boys are talking about forming their own club with male mentorship and activities.
We started this 2017-2018 school year strong, and plan to finish strong as well. This is a time when we are thinking about scholarships and ways to set up students for continued success for the following year. We are so incredibly grateful to have you as our partner on this journey, and thank you for all your donations, support and encouragement.
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