It is with deep gratitude and joy that we announce that Friends have raised $40,259.68 for the Belize Friends School! Several months ago, the school faced a sudden financial shortfall and we sent out an appeal for $37,500 to keep the school open for the remainder of the school year. Your amazing response will allow us to move into the next fiscal year with a small head start, as we work on raising the $67,000 needed to fund the school through the next school year.
Nikki Holland, Director of Belize Friends Ministries, writes:
I am frequently brought to tears by stories I’m hearing of various projects, fundraisers, and campaigns that Friends in the USA are doing for our school. I am astonished by the level of support from Friends that we feel here in Belize, and being assured of funding through this school year is allowing us to concentrate fully on caring for our students and preparing them to sit their exams in the Spring. We are looking forward now to figuring out how we can fund the 2020-2021 school year, and I am confident that God, and Friends will do it! And, I hope, we will do it without an emergency!
Nikki and Eden Grace, Director of Global Ministries, are exploring various ways to ensure the long-term sustainability of Belize Friends Ministries. They are searching for grant opportunities to help support the school; they have one application pending, and will hear back from that organization in September. Other developing income streams include renting the school bus out, selling concessions from our canteen, and renting out space on the roof for an internet tower. They are also pursuing renting space within the new facility to other organizations.
We are grateful for ongoing fundraising work on behalf of the school, including an upcoming fundraiser at Deep River Friends Meeting (North Carolina Fellowship of Friends). We're also pleased to report that the Christian Outreach Board of Western Yearly Meeting has chosen the Belize Friends School as their 2020 Special Project. Last year, Western YM's Special Project fundraising raised $19,000 for Girl-Child Education, and in 2018 they raised nearly $20,000 for ministries in Tanzania, so we are prayerfully confident that they will meet or exceed their $15,000 goal this year.
General Secretary Kelly Kellum says, “Nikki Holland is providing great leadership as Friends United Meeting is serving one of the most vulnerable communities in Belize City. We are blessed by the continuing generosity of Friends who sacrificially give to support this ministry.” Please continue to pray for Nikki and for Belize Friends Ministries as we seek, together, to discern God’s way forward.
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