Belize is a small Central American country, formerly known as British Honduras, whose people are rich in spirit but may be poor by material standards. Nowhere in this tropical land are there medical facilities to care for children born with disabling afflictions. Imagine being born with limbs so twisted that you cannot stand or walk. Picture what it would be like if you could not stand or walk like the other people around you. You can help change a child's destiny.

In 1977, the members of Rotary District 6510 resolved to help the orthopedically disabled children of Belize when they initiated the Belizean Children's Project. Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis generously offered to accept Belizean children for treatment - free of charge. Now, almost three decades later, more than 300 children are leading happier, more productive lives. Dr. Jack Sheridan, an orthopedic surgeon, donates his time, and travels each year to Belize, where he conducts clinics and identifies the children who can be helped through treatment in the United States.

Your kindness counts:

There are two ways you can help promote the work of the Belizean Project. You can host a child who is undergoing treatment or you can donate financial support.

Host a child who is undergoing treatment

The Belizean Children's Program relies on the generosity of individuals and families who are willing to open their homes to a child in need of medical care. Host families choose the child who will stay with them from a list of children who have been selected for treatment. Some hosts, may prefer an infant boy or girl, while others may prefer an older child. Extensive information is provided to help host-families select a child. The length of stay with the host family is determined by the prescribed medical treatment. The child's condition and anticipated health care needs are reviewed to assist the host family in making the selection. English is the predominant language in Belize, but Mayan, Creole, Garifuna and Spanish are spoken also. Families who have hosted non- English-speaking children, say that the children learn quickly and communication is not a problem. Host families provide free room and board and transportation to and from the hospital when the child is treated on an out-patient basis. Host families are not responsible for the child's air transportation to and from St. Louis. Air travel arrangements are handled by the Belizean Children's Project.

Thank you for considering to be a crippled child's host family.

The children come to us in fear But they come with hope with love and kindness They learn to cope

Their needs are many With clothing and such They enjoy our shopping And stores so much

They may slow you down But they help you see Things in perspective A new reality

They are quite delightful And may steal your heart But we must keep in mind what is our part

We do all we can And use all we know To help them stand, sit or walk And then let them go

Donate financial support

Your help can enable a child to live a happy, productive life. A financial contribution would go toward this medical relief effort in many different ways. Financial donations are primarily used to defray the cost of transporting a child to the United States for proper medical care.

To make a financial contribution contact:

Merilyn Hogan - 618-549-6365 or
Virgil Jansen - 618-594-4158

To become a host family contact: