I will never complain about homework again. It happened in 2014 when I had the opportunity to travel to Belize for a family vacation. In this beautiful country packed with adventure and culture, I learned that education is expensive for many Belizean families partly because of the cost of compulsory uniform and supplies. Upon learning that items as simple as a notebook and pencil can give a child an opportunity to go to school, I knew exactly what I wanted to do to help.
I started a club called "Believe in Belize" at my High School in September 2014. Through contact with the local Rotary Club (of which my father was a member), we were able to get in touch with the principal of St. John's Anglican School in Placencia, Belize. He told us that the school has a great deal of need and sent us a list of their most needed supplies.
I returned to Belize the following summer with lots of school supplies and volunteered at the school. What would happen to the literacy rate in Belize if the larger community began to support education in Belize? The global social and economic benefits of expanding literacy are undeniable: eradicate poverty, address gender inequality, and create sustainable development, to name a few.
In the words of Malala Yousafzai "One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world."