Reporting by Fr. Matt Ruhl, S.J. - Pastor of St. Peter Claver, Punta Gorda
The dry season in Belize has been particularly harsh this year, leaving many villagers in the rugged Toledo District struggling with water shortages. Basic necessities like clean drinking water have become scarce, with many village residents forced to bathe in creek water. The unusually dry conditions contributed to a drought across the region, record high temperatures, and wildfires have also broken out in parts of Belize.
Thanks to the support of Belize2020, four Catholic schools in remote Toledo District have received much-needed water storage tanks, bringing relief to students and their families.
“This year, the dry season has been so hot and so dry, I had to beg for water tanks to be installed in four of our village schools,” said Fr. Matt Ruhl, pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish in Punta Gorda. “This does remind me of the corporal works of mercy, one of which is to give drink to the thirsty.”
The first two water tanks were installed at schools in Dolores and Santa Cruz villages, with the remaining two installed at schools in Big Falls and San Jose. Once the tanks are filled by the local Water Board and the rainy season arrives, they will provide a sustainable source of water for the schools to use in the future.
The Toledo District, with its rugged mountain terrain and remote Mayan villages, is one of the most challenging areas to access in Belize. St. Peter Claver Parish, established in 1862 as the first Jesuit hub in the country, serves as a central point for the region's rural Catholic churches and schools. The installation of the water tanks ensures that children attending these schools will have access to clean drinking water and water for their bathrooms, even during the dry season.
Belize2020 is proud to have fully funded this critical project. The installation of these tanks is just one example of how the Belize2020 partnership is able to directly and quickly support the needs of underserved communities in Belize to improve quality of life.
