We are currently working on a fantastic education project: children from schools in the Belmopan area are learning to care for and respect animals, and in turn respect each other.

Please click on one of the following links or scroll down through the whole page -

Be Kind Belize Graduates Gallery!
News updates on the Be Kind Belize programme:
	May 28th 2011 Be Kind Belize Kids' Day Camp
Background information on the Be Kind Belize programme:
	Belmopan Humane Society and the Be Kind Belize Programme
	An Overview of Humane Education
	San Pedro Sun press release on Be Kind Belize

May 28th, 2011: Be Kind Belize Day Camp

To date, 90 children from three schools in Belmopan area - Garden City, St. Martin and St. Michael’s - have graduated from our after-school programme, “Be Kind Belize”. This was made possible thanks to volunteers from the Belmopan Humane Society with the assistance of two paid teachers and one paid assistant, and of course the kind cooperation of the schools' principals.

Saturday, May 28, 2011 the Belmopan Humane Society hosted an all day “Be Kind Belize” Day Camp. 25 children picked from the 90 graduates, deemed kindest by their peers, enjoyed a day with guest speakers, fun activities, snacks, burger BBQ, pointers from FIFA Coach Renan Cowo, a football game and a Kindness Rap contest.

The day started with a co operative standup, a fun activity that introduced the children to each other and proved that cooperation works every time.

Mr. Sylvestre Trejo brought his two huge rescued dogs and his two young children to show that with proper training one can control the dogs psychologically rather than physically.

Guest speaker, Dr. Ed. Boles, Aquatic Ecologist, gave an interesting presentation on respect and reverence of our environment and brought a baby “Giant Mexican Musk Turtle” for the children to see.

After a burger BBQ lunch the children were presented with a slide show by Dr. Bart Harmsen, representing Panthera and the Belize Jaguar Corridor programme. While explaining the importance of keeping the balance with nature, wildlife and man’s need to live off the land he gave a slide show of the many animals native to Belize during which the children interacted with many questions and answers.

Paul Lopez and Trey Cabb of Devinny Productions displayed how to rhyme and rap and put them to the challenge of creating a “kindness cheer/rap”. Five groups of five children worked on a Kindness Rap throughout the day and each group entertained us all at the end of the day with the Kindest Rap group receiving prizes.

Finally, as a special surprise, a coach from FIFA gave the children football exercises to practice and then put them into a football game. The children had a memorable day.

The camp was free of cost to the children and funded by Belmopan Humane Society, the US Embassy and the many volunteers that gave their time that hot day.

Anyone wishing any further information may contact the Belmopan Humane Society at 822 0176 and visit our Facebook page.

Belmopan Humane Society and the Be Kind Belize Education Programme

In October 2010, Belmopan Humane Society was awarded a grant from the Embassy of the United States to implement an Humane Education Programme using the successful Be Kind Belize Programme written by Colette Kase of San Pedro.
The grant has enabled the Society to train and pay three qualified Belizean educators to teach this popular after-school programme.
The programme has been taught in the schools of Belmopan, Salvapan and Las Flores, producing more than 140 graduates
September and October will see the programme in the villages of Roaring Creek, Camelote and Teakettle.

What is Be Kind Belize?

• Teaches the alternative 3-r’s of Reverence, Respect & Responsibility

• Uses a child’s natural curiosity in animals as a learning tool

• Encourages the students to think about their environment and how it affects them

• Encourages realisation that every action has consequences for themselves and everyone around them

• Comprises 8 one-hour modules covering subjects such as the differences between wild and domestic animals, our responsibility toward our environment, population control in dogs and cats, safety around dogs, our responsibilities toward domestic animals and empathy with all living creatures.

• Focuses primarily on boys age 8-12 years.

• Entry into the after-school programme is purely voluntary

• All graduates receive a Be Kind Belize Graduation Certificate

• Two students, chosen by their classmates, receive special Kindest Kid certificates and a prize

• All those graduating with perfect attendance are treated to an educational field trip to the Belize Zoo.

Do you want to know more or would you like to become a Be Kind Belize Educator?

Contact Colette Kase for more information.

An Overview of Humane Education

Children that learn to be kind to other living creatures are also kinder to people, are better at communicating and are more likely to become helpful and caring members of the community as adults. Humane education also helps children develop better interpersonal skills such as speaking and listening while improving their attitudes towards caring for others. Humane education promotes empathy and respect for all life.

Studies conclusively prove that violence towards animals is related to violent behaviour towards people. Children who participate in or witness animal cruelty are more inclined to become involved in anti social behaviour including fire setting, sexual violence, domestic abuse and murder.

By engendering reverence, respect and responsibility in children before they start developing concerning patterns of behaviour, humane education acts like a moral vaccination. It gives children the tools they need to make decisions about their own behaviour and helps them to understand the consequences of those decisions.

The Be Kind Belize Humane Education programme has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the Belize National Curriculum at Standard 2, 3 & 4 and is aimed at children between the ages of 8-11 years old. Lessons will complement and enhance studies in math, science, social studies, art and health. Lesson plans can be adapted as needed to fit in with the values of different schools and as all lessons are interactive, the children are more likely to learn effectively because they will be personally involved in the learning process.

Teaching children through and about animals is a sound educational tool and provides an exciting context through which children are enthused to learn and apply developing skills and understanding.
At the end of every course, all children receive a Be Kind Belize graduation certificate

Be Kind Belize
226-4366/501-624-8251
BeKindBelize@gmail.com.

Please take a look at this press release which featured in the San Pedro Sun on December 2nd:

Teachers learn to ‘do it with kindness’

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 in the Education Category

Be Kind Belize workshop held in Belmopan

Press Release - Be Kind Belize - November 26th, 2010 - Be Kind Belize, the humane education programme, started in San Pedro in 2007 is spreading kindness across the country. During a three day workshop on November 19th, 20th & 21st, hosted by the Belmopan Humane Society, Colette Kase, Be Kind Belize founder, taught teachers and animal welfare volunteers the principals of humane education and helped them to kick start an important new programme in our capital city.

Belmopan Humane Society, with a grant provided by the US Embassy, have started an ambitious new effort to teach children the importance of kindness and to help them develop empathy - the ability to understand what it feels like to be in someone else's situation. Be Kind Belize was invited to provide materials and train humane educators for this groundbreaking programme in Belmopan, providing them with everything they need to work with ‘at risk' children in Belmopan and surrounding areas.

Belmopan Humane Society had selected a group of candidates, some with many years teaching experience, who wished to become ‘humane educators'. Several volunteers from the Humane Society also participated, as well as a number of local children, who were lucky enough to be able to benefit from the practical sessions. The issue of dog fighting was raised amongst research clearly demonstrating that children who are exposed to cruelty to animals are more likely to become involved in serious criminal activity and violence as adults.

It was noted that children who are exposed to dog fighting and the criminal activities associated with it are highly at risk. A special Power Point, covering the history of the Pit Bull, highlighting its many services to human kind as a military dog, police dog, search and rescue dog and drug detection dog - in fact the most successful drug detection dog ever was a rescued Pit Bull - was shown as a means to help educate young people about the reasons why dog fighting is wrong and illegal.

The workshop was an eye opener for some participants, covering issues ranging from using positive reinforcement in teaching to understanding the status of many endangered species in Belize. Educators learned how to use interactive lessons involving art, drama, mathematics, writing, and science to allow the children to explore the concepts of kindness and responsibility. Because the programme uses a broad range of teaching approaches, children enjoy the classes and are highly motivated to participate, which in itself is hugely rewarding for the educators.

Nikki Buxton, of Belmopan Humane Society and Belize Bird Rescue said ‘The children who will be invited to take part in humane education through this programme will have been identified as ‘at risk'. We hope that by providing them with a new way of looking at the world, helping them to understand the consequences of their behaviour upon themselves, the people and animals around them and their community, they will be more likely to become responsible and thoughtful adults. By teaching children that violence is wrong whether committed against humans or non humans and by offering them choices in life that make kindness, generosity and empathy signs of strength and not weakness, we hope that we are positively investing in the future of Belize.'

Be Kind Belize is a free programme, designed to complement the Belize National Curriculum. It is available to any school that would like to introduce the concept of kindness to their pupils. Volunteers are always welcome. If you would like more information about how you or your school could participate in Be Kind Belize or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Colette Kase on 226 4366.