WEST PLAINS, Mo. – For the past several years, students at Missouri State University-West Plains have had the opportunity to travel to Belize to learn about this developing country. These trips also have given them the chance to give something back to their fellow man.
The 16 students who made the trek this summer to the Central American country with Associate Professor of Geology/Geography John H. Fohn II and his wife, Nancy, a per course music instructor at the campus, continued the work of previous students by taking much needed supplies and donated funds to the HelpAge Belize program for senior citizens.
A part of the HelpAge International organization, HelpAge Belize serves over 7,000 senior citizens – many of which are Mayan Indians – in that country with such programs as Meals on Wheels, elder day care, and a variety of activities and special events.
“The program provides food, toiletries, anything older residents need to make their life a little better, a little more comfortable,” John Fohn explained. “Belize residents have a great respect for their older citizens and do what they can to help them, but most of the country’s residents are in great need themselves.”
That’s one of the reasons the Fohns decided to incorporate a community service aspect to their study abroad trips. During the planning process for the trip, students are told about HelpAge Belize and asked to participate by bringing needed items such as toiletries, reading glasses and books, the latter of which are very popular, as well as monetary donations.
“The student response has been very good,” John Fohn said. “Providing these donations gives the trip an added dimension students normally don’t think about, and it brings an added level of reality to what they are experiencing in this developing country.”
The Fohns learned about the HelpAge program from former West Plains resident and longtime university supporter Stan Morrison. He put them in contact with the Belize program’s first president, Hazel Hutchinson, who was more than eager to share her vision with the Fohns.
“The first time we met Hazel, you could tell she was so committed to this cause,” Nancy Fohn recalled. “It was the one thing she really wanted to talk about, and her commitment really struck me.”
“Hazel wasn’t rich,” John added. “She, too, was elderly, and she lived in a small, modest house, but she always was willing to open her door and allow us to visit in her home on every study abroad trip we took, and she would tell the students about her country.”
During this year’s visit, the students were able to see what countless contributions to the program have created at the recently completed Hazel Hutchinson Building in Belmopan, the country’s capital. Named in honor of Hutchinson, who died in May 2007, the center is designed to provide bedrooms, bathrooms, a recreation hall and kitchen for some of the city’s senior citizens. Students were given a personalized tour by the HelpAge Belmopan chapter’s board chairman, Evan Dakers, who also gave them a formal presentation about the local program and its services.
“HelpAge is represented throughout the country, but the first actual center built for the program was this one in Belmopan,” John Fohn said. “The center currently is used for daytime services only because the program doesn’t have the funding needed to purchase beds.”
“The students saw there still was so much need in the country, they really felt they were making a difference,” Nancy Fohn added.
Area residents can join the HelpAge cause, even without traveling to Belize, John Fohn added. He is asking for monetary donations that will be given to the Belmopan chapter to purchase beds and other necessities for the Hazel Hutchinson Building. Those who would like to make a donation can contact him and Nancy at 417-256-7980. If no one answers, leave a message and they will call you back, he said, adding they will make sure the donations reach the appropriate HelpAge administrators.
As with all of their study abroad trips, the purpose and intent is to give students a very real view of life in Belize. To that end, the group of 16 students, the largest group ever taken by the Fohns to Belize, visited the country’s largest city, Belize City (pop. 70,000-plus), and its national zoo, which is located in the middle of the jungle; San Ignacio and the Mayan Indian sites of Cahel Pech and Barton Creek Cave, the latter of which required a two-mile canoe trip; the small city of Orange Walk Town (pop. about 16,000) which reveals an unfiltered view of Belize’s multicultural heritage; the world-renowned Lamanai Mayan ruins; and Caye Caulker, one of over 100 islands near the Central American barrier reef. To keep the trip affordable, the group did a lot of walking and took public transportation.
The students enrolled in one or both of the 2010 summer intersession classes offered by the Fohns, Introduction to the Human and Physical Geography of Belize (GRY 197) and Music of Belize (MUS 197), to make the trip and were required to submit papers about their experiences after the tour was completed. “This was a good group of students. They were very inquisitive and very interested in what they were experiencing,” Nancy Fohn said.
THE MASK TEMPLE at the Lamanai Mayan ruins in north-central Belize was just one of the sites this group of Missouri State University-West Plains students visited as part of their study abroad tour of the Central American country. This is the fifth trip to Belize organized by Associate Professor of Geology/Geography John H. Fohn II and his wife, Nancy, a per course music instructor at the university. Front row from left are student Austin Acklin of West Plains; Nancy Fohn; and students Kaleigh McCartney and Sydnee Clinton, both of West Plains, Tiana Smith of Marshfield, and Dawn and William Eudy, Josh Dye and Barrett Estes, all of West Plains. Back row: Students Attie Acklin of West Plains, Daniel Creager of Willow Springs, and Zachary Sanders of West Plains; John Fohn; and students Josh Elson of West Plains, Noelle Mollhagen of Cabool, Janet Franke of West Plains, Sheryl Ford of Willow Springs, and Dot Bailey of West Plains. (Photo courtesy of John H. Fohn II)
JOHN H. FOHN II, left, associate professor of geology/geography at Missouri State University-West Plains, stands with officers from the Belmopan chapter of HelpAge Belize in the new elder care facility during a recent study abroad tour of the country with 16 university students. A not-for-profit organization, HelpAge Belize provides much needed services and programs for the country’s elderly. The new center will provide housing for some of Belmopan’s homeless senior citizens. As part of their tour, students brought such items as toiletries, books and reading glasses for those served by HelpAge. From right are Belmopan chapter board chairman Evan Dakers, secretary Michael Usher and director Malikah Cardona. (Photo courtesy of John H. Fohn II)