So far in the news we've told you about the lamentable murder number 100 for 2010, and also about two attempted armed robberies in the city this morning.
Indeed violence has come to dominate the evening news and shape our everyday existences…. And while ensuring personal security is a matter for adults, the state of in-security we all live in, has also impacted children.
Tomorrow the city will witness upper division and high school students rally against crime. But today as a precursor the younger children of St. Ignatius Primary took to the streets to do their part and Andrea Polanco found out that like all of us, these children are scarred from a community mortally wounded by violence:…
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Over four hundred and fifty lower division students of St Ignatius School took to the streets bearing banners, placards and posters to send out a message against crime:
Minerva Balan: St Ignatius-Teacher
"St. Ignatius School children infant 1 thru to standard 2 are out today having a little mini parade in support for the rally that will take place tomorrow. We know that they are not going to participate, its standard 3 and up so we decided as a school that our little children has something to say too so we are giving this opportunity to do so."
The young students certainly had something to say:
Student
"I love Belize and I want all the violence to stop."
Student
"I want to stop the crime and stop the violence."
Student
"I come here to say that how there is too much violence in Belize. I want to ask God to help us and stop the violence. We want peace."
Student
"We just come for a safer Belize we don't care if the weather is hot or not."
Student
"Miss I want the violence to stop and make Belize be in peace."
Student
"Miss I just want to say to stop the violence because I lose my brother to gun violence."
Whether it's a personal story, marching in the streets, or talking at school with friends, the level of crime in Belize has made an imprint in the minds of these young students.
Minerva Balan: St Ignatius-Teacher
"Well telling you from my experience teaching infant 1 and I mean these are children who are 4 and 5 year olds. Bringing a topic and discussing it with them I learn that these children are fully aware of what is going on and I know that they are tired of hearing gunshots, tired of hearing the news saying that somebody got killed etc. so they are fully aware."
The mini march circled the block of the St. Ignatius school and to conclude their activities the teachers engaged the children in discussion about the march. The st. Ignatius school upper division will be in the tomorrow's rally.
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