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The Belize City Council today hosted its first Sheroes Awards ceremony as part of the Women's month celebrations. The council awarded 11 women, one from each constituency, for their contributions to their family and community. We dropped by at the Radisson to meet the proud Sheroes. Mayor Bernard Wagner and Councilor Candice Pitts told us more about this initiative.

Bernard Wagner - Mayor, Belize City
"It is women's month and councillor Pitts came up with this great idea of acknowledging and recognizing some of the women who have been unsung heroes in our society and in our community so we were able to identify 11 such women that we feel have done their part and been the cornerstone of their families and communities and that is why we feel good about this even today."

Dr. Candice Pitts - Councilor
"The requirements that we had for the selection of these sheroes were very specific. We asked the area reps and standard Bearers of their constituencies to identify women who have been making contributions to the society but have not been highlighted for whatever reasons. Many of them are lifelong educators, small business owners, media personalities, party supporters and they have helped lay the foundation and road for many of us. Some of them are wives, they are mothers, they have raised children and helped to nurture families who are making their own contributions to society we just wanted to do our part to highlight them."

Maria Requena - Awardee
"Well I feel happy about it being recognized as a pre-school teacher."

Reporter
"How many years?"

Maria Requena
"44 years."

Reporter
"Could you share what has encouraged you to do this year after year for all this time?"

Maria Requena
"Well you know I have been teaching for so long and I think the little children encourage me because every ear you meet new children, new parents and that keep me going."

Olga Gordon - Awardee
"All these years I have been working doing community service, working in the area, still working out, attending to my kids so it was a task but to know that I could put a smile on someone's face I felt good about it. It is a warm feeling to know your hard work was not in vain, I have been doing this work for 30 years without recognition I always felt you either quit or you continue and knowing that somebody out there has seen the good work that I have done it is a excited feeling, it is a warm feeling."

The women were given plaques, lunch as well as $250 towards a cause or charity of their choice. The council hopes to make this an annual event.