Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Feelgood news of the day.  The Rotaract Club of San Ignacio visited Cristo Reyto start work on the community center and supply it with books.  Thanks, Rotaract!

"Rotaractors today May 10th, Visited the Village of Cristo Rey in the Cayo District to build, install and stock bookshelves at the Community Center.  Many Thanks to the people who donated and helped in the collection of the books.  The Community Service Project focuses on promoting literacy in the village of Cristo Rey.  Rotaractors will continue to work on the Community Center to meet the needs of the community."

Blancaneaux Lodge is teaching students from San Antonio and Cristo Rey the  importance of organic farming as part of their community outreach programs.  Thanks, Blancaneaux!

"Teaching our upcoming generations the importance of ORGANIC farming.  Not only feasible but also healthier.  Part of our community outreach efforts at the San Antonio and Cristo Rey Schools."

Tabby Johnson, the Canadian jazz singer, will be playing at the Soul Project tomorrow night, Saturday the 14th.  The warm up Belizean musicians will be Drew Gill, Mark Phillips, and Alexander Evans.  This is a Winsom Foundation fundraiser for scholarships to students in Cristo Rey. 

In related news, the Soul Project is having their normal Friday night Open Mic tonight.  They just released a video from a few weeks ago of the World Culture Band and Eddie Allen playing Carlos Santana's 'Black Magic Woman.'  Awesome song, awesome cover.  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=467413596697538

Emmeth Young and the Talla Walla Vibrations drummed the night away at the Soul Project last night.  It's was a phenomenal show, and they even let some of the crowd play along.  D Russell Photography scored some wicked pictures of the concert.

In related news, they'll be coming back to play on Boxing day at the Chaya Garden Ashram in Cristo Rey.  Contact them for more information on the event.

Tabby Johnson, the Canadian Jazz, Blues, and Gospel singer, will be performing at the Soul Project on December 14th.  She is performing to help the Winsom Foundation raise funds to provide scholarships for students from Cristo Rey. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taborah_Johnson

Feelgood news of the day.  The Cristo Rey Primary School is getting a Bird Garden.  The Belize Raptor Center, which will visit the school over 20 times for the project(pictures here) has teamed up with Full Basket Belize to make the bird garden happen.  Thanks to both wonderful organizations!

"The first of 20+ visits to Cristo Rey school. Cristo Rey is one of two schools that will receive Full Basket Belize grant money for a school bird garden this year.  We are thrilled to be able to provide the children and community with a year worth of activities and a garden built with their own hands to be proud of for years to come."

The Cristo Rey primary school has a new mural.  It was done with the help of many of the visiting Ontario College of Art and Design students, and the Winsom Foundation.  Thanks, OCAD!

"Ever tried doing a mural with thirty-five little eight and nine year old.  Each having their own creative Wisdom ....I watched two masters handle it very well Quentin Babatundé VerCetty and Sam Gottlieb you are true artist and excellent teachers ....  More mural pictures ..Thank you Cristo Rey RC school for being such great host to the OCAD University students and the Winsom Foundation."

Feelgood news of the day.  Table Rock Jungle Lodge is one of many lodges in Cayo that are supporting the Pack for a Purpose project, where they ask guests to bring some school supplies down in any extra space they might have in their luggage.  It might be just a book or 2 at a time, but over the course of a semester, that all adds up, and they donated it to the Cristo Rey primary school.  Thanks, TRL!

"

'25 things we all know about Belize' might have been a better title.  There's some cool Cayo information in this article from the Huffington Post.  The picture of the sleeping policeman in Cristo Rey leads the story.

"They still have hand-cranked ferries: One in the Cayo District, used to reach Xunantunich, and another Corozal to reach the Cerros site, these ferries are a flash back into the old Belize...  The tallest building is a Maya pyramid: The Caana temple at the Maya site of Caracol, rises 136 feet high."

Emmeth Young and the Talla Walla Vibrations made for an amazing night at the Soul Project.  They'll be playing again at the Chaya Garden Ashram in Cristo Rey on Boxing Day.