Damn the Dam!

Damn the Dam! from Ya'axché Conservation Trust on Vimeo.

Check out these Punta Gorda High School students who wanted to use the power of music and dance to represent the opposition of both themselves and their communities to unsustainable hydroelectric development. This whole movie is shot on the very same river that the proposed dam was to be built upon. These young Belizeans are showing just how much the river means to the people of Toledo district and how they want to see it remain just the way it is.

Thanks to Ajax films for making this movie and to the talented TCC students who worked so hard to make it happen!

Garifuna Drumming

In early September I began to take Garifuna Drumming lessons here in Punta Gorda. In Belize one of the ethnic groups is called the Garifuna. The Garifuna people came from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent and migrated to Central America after the British invaded their island. They carried along with them their language, food, and music. Some of their music was lost. Only a couple songs remain today that have been passed down from generation to generation. Some of the songs are Chumba, Paranda, and my favorite the Punta. There are two drums the primero ,which is small and has a high sound, and the Segundo, which is large with a deep sound. A Garifuna drum is usually made of mahogany and deer skin. My teacher Mr. Ronald Mc Donald is a experienced drummer who expresses his culture through Garifuna drumming. It’s been a wonderful experience to me to be immersed in the music of the Garifuna culture.

HOPE (Helping Older People Equally)

Last week of September is celebrated as Elderly week in Belize. Hillside Clinic, in partnership with HOPE, joined in the celebration by assisting in a whole week program of health assessment, medication maintenance, health education, and pampering with manicure and pedicure (foot care). We enjoyed the socialization. I actually found my true calling….podiatry!!! I ended up doing foot care since we did not have enough volunteers for that service. You should have seen the smiley faces of our elderly patients. Some of them I hardly recognized because they were so well dressed for the event. HOPE WEEK was a great success!

HOPE patient getting special attention.

Maria doing foot care for home bound.