Holy Cross has come a long way, from its humble beginnings offering free education to the less fortunate. Ideally located in San Mateo, where one could say, the hub of San Pedro’s poverty exists, it has provided a much needed services for students, offering a feeding program among others.
Holy Cross has seen volunteer doctors, dentists, teachers, constructors among others. Two weeks ago, a group of volunteers came down to Holy Cross, but this time around not to construct anything, but rather to beautify. The idea of creating a mural was a seed planted a while ago and Ellen Sinclair from Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA decided that this was a project she would be more than happy to undertake. While this was Ellen’s first time volunteering at Holy Cross, her family is no stranger. Her husband a constructor and daughter, a school teacher, have been volunteering for the past few years. Ellen told The San Pedro Sun that she saw this as her turn this time around.
Ellen was accompanied by nine volunteers from the Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. In speaking of the mural she commented; “Lydia sent some measurements and some photographs, I did a small rendering of it to scale and we got here, gridded it off and now there we have it”. The mural, using Belize as its main backdrop depicts postcards of Virginia, Australia, India Africa, Alaska, China and Egypt and showcases some of the many wonders of Belize such as the great Barrier Reef and other animals of the region.
Ellen went on to comment;, “It is our hope that the mural would allow these children to think beyond Holy Cross, beyond Belize, that it might educate them and is more than just being a pretty picture. Maybe they would ask a little bit more about Africa or India or any of the other places depicted and their interest would grow and who knows, this might even push them to aim to eventually visit those places”. Half the cost for the creation was provided by moneys raised by the church, while Mr. Alfonso Castillo of Castillo’s Hardware was instrumental in providing all materials at a 50% discounted price. Holy Cross and the group of volunteers extend a much appreciated and hearty thank you to Mr. Castillo.
