Stephanie Chi wins Be Kind Belize Speech Contest at Holy Cross

Be Kind Belize hosted a speech competition at Holy Cross Anglican School on Friday, June 10th.
Students from Standard II and III (Grade 4 & 5) filled the cafeteria hall to capacity and were on hand to witness the performance of four students. Each student had prepared a speech based on kindness, defining it, using examples of kindness, asking their peers what kind acts they’ve done, and as well, suggesting kind acts that the community can adapt as part of its daily routine.

Students sat and behaved marvelously while the speech contest was going on.

Lion Judges Enes Ramirez-Anderson, Miguel Perez and Tamara Sniffin

After two invited guests spoke to the gathered students (Barracuda Bikini's Celeste Pederson and Mary Gonzalez [Tia Chocolate]), was time for the prepared speeches. A very brave Jaaphet Castillo was called up first. After explaining the meaning of kindness, he pointed out the various examples of kindness as defined in the Bible, and while he stumbled a little, he remained calm and finished his speech to rousing applause. Following him was Aaliyah Roches, who recited a very sweet definition of kindness. Similarly, Rodell Mendez expounded on the issue of discrimination, threading his essay with a few touches of a poem on kindness.

Jaaphet Castillo

Aaliyah Roches

Rodell Mendez

However, it was Stephanie Chi who took the prize, as she gave an electric performance, asking her peers to be kind, giving examples and simply blowing the judges (Lion Members) away with her impassioned speech. After a few moments of deliberation, she was declared the winner of the grand prize: a brand new bicycle! Jaaphat, Aaliyah and Rodell did not go back to class empty-handed however, as they also each took $25 gift certificates. The bicycle was donated by a very generous Janice Feldman, while the gift certificates were donated by Marty Casado of www.ambergriscaye.com.

Stephanie Chi

Congratulations to the students, and a big thank you to Colette Kase of Be Kind Belize, Janice Feldman and Marty Casado.

Be Kind Belize and the San Pedro Lions Club encourage kids to speak out about kindness

Press Release – Be Kind Belize – April 28, 2011 – Be Kind Belize, the humane education programme, is working with the Lions Club to give children the opportunity to speak out about ‘Kindness in Our Community’.

On the 10th of May at 7pm, children from standards 2, 3 & 4 at Holy Cross Anglican School will have the honour of presenting their own speeches to members of the San Pedro Lions Club.
The speech topic is ‘Kindness in Our Community’. Lions Club members will vote for the best speech and the winner will receive a brand new bicycle.
The children will be required to include answers to several important questions in their speech including: Why is kindness important? Why do some people or animals not receive much kindness? How can kindness change lives? And – What could be done to make San Pedro a kinder place? They will be judged on their presentation skills and creativity.
Be Kind Belize provides training and Educators’ Resource packs, free of charge to any school, humane society, community or individual who wishes to introduce the programme locally.
For more information about Be Kind Belize contact BeKindBelize@gmail.com or call 501-226-4366.

The Art of Life - Tiny Stories

By Chris Emmanuel

“Words only have the power we choose to give them”

I am having a bad day.

He did it on purpose.

She let me down.

They are wrong.

These are the tiny stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions. When life doesn’t go the way we expect, we need to find a way to satisfy the small self. They are mostly a complaint to assert our behavior to others-designed to render judgment making rights and wrongs. We create unreal boundaries to push others down and build ourselves up. Through these boundaries we create enemies, most often never understanding the truth of a situation.

This is how we create suffering. Through time we block ourselves in, only gathering around us those who fit within the wall of our ego. And if that’s not enough, we tell others these tiny stories and spread poison on each other gathering disciples to justify our position. So many people today have lost the ability to think and not knowingly given their minds over to gossip, media, society and their peers. Brainwashing is always going on.

How nice life would be without these tiny stories that create divisions between people. How nice it would be to get the truth about what really happened. The great thing about a small island is you know everyone. The bad thing is that you know everyone. Suffering starts when we start naming or labeling our situation. Next time you find yourself suffering because of a tiny story, ask yourself: why do I let other people’s words and ideas become so important to me? Then spend your time focusing on what you want to get out of life.

Books by Christopher Emmanuel can be purchased at his Art Gallery in the Sun breeze Hotel, Art of Touch, Pages Book Store, Black orchid Spa and Sol Spa.