The Menzies Philanthropic Foundation has identified and committed to two main agendas:
- To raise Funds for the 7 Orphanages in Belize based on the Shirley Menzies 7 basic needs, Home, Health, Nutrition, Education, Family, Faith, and Love.
- To support and enforce the family units in Belize to prevent the need for children to enter the system and to help them to return as fast as possible.
Prevent children from entering the system
Every day millions of children around the world are placed into orphanages because their parents are unable to care for them. By providing resources and education for struggling parents we can empower them to better handle life’s challenges and care for their children.
We can collaborate with caregivers, child-protection committees, and NGOs throughout Belize to identify and support at-risk children and vulnerable families long before formal interventions become a necessity and provide the necessary support. We feel that prevention is how we break the cycle of poverty and neglect.
Transition children from orphanages into families
Along with supporting children in orphanages, we will focus on helping children transition from orphanages into families and will encourage and support this concept of reunification with each center. To facilitate this, we’ve adapted the Thrive Scale™ created by Miracle Foundation to bring awareness to, and measure a child’s needs and rights after they return home.
Create a regenerative eco-community where children and families thrive
Our ultimate goal is to build a sustainable eco-village with the sister organization, Me Is We, that focuses on healing, helping, and growing healthy families. By providing training and financial, emotional, and communal support to struggling families and orphaned children, we believe that by creating a safe haven collective community, we can give people a unique opportunity to heal, learn and develop a purpose-driven life instead of one of a cycle of neglect and poverty. We look to affect the future, not propagate the past, and within this community model, we have the blueprint for doing just that around the entire globe!
We believe that every child has fundamental rights. We’ve adopted the United Nations Rights of the Child to guide our programs and initiatives.
Both The Menzies Philanthropic Foundation and Me Is We Social Impact Organization stand for the fundamental rights of every
child on the planet and have adopted the United Nations Rights of the Child to guide our programs and initiatives.
United Nations Rights of the Child
All Children Have the Same Rights
Right to live with
a family
a family
Every child should be able to live in a family, either with their parents or in an attachment-based, family styled environment while experiencing a sense of belonging.
RIGHT TO A STABLE, LOVING AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT
RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE & NUTRITION
Every child will receive regular and high quality medical attention at all times. We will inculcate in them good health and hygiene habits. They will be provided with healthy, nutritious and delicious food in every meal.
Right to clean water and electric power
Every child will receive consistent access to clean water and electrical power in a safe environment.
RIGHT TO A QUALITY
EDUCATION
EDUCATION
Every child should be able to experience attachment with its caregiver through a stable, loving and nurturing family environment.
RIGHT TO EQUAL
OPPORTUNITIES
OPPORTUNITIES
Every child will receive regular and high quality medical attention at all times. We will inculcate in them good health and hygiene habits. They will be provided with healthy, nutritious and delicious food in every meal.
Right to guidance from
a caring adult
a caring adult
Every child will be actively supported by caring, trained, adults who will invest in the child’s success.
RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM
Every child will be actively supported by caring, trained, adults who will invest in the child’s success.
RIGHT TO BE PREPARED FOR ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP
Every child will be taught responsibility, a sense of community, and given the opportunity to give back.
RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED FROM ABUSE & NEGLECT
Every child will receive effective protection from harmful influences, abuse (physical & mental), neglect, corporal punishment and all forms of exploitation.
RIGHT TO LIVE IN DIGNITY AND FREEDOM
Every child is treated with respect and lives in adequate conditions with sufficient belongings that foster a sense of dignity and freedom.
RIGHT TO SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Every child is provided opportunities to develop a religious affiliation that promotes spirituality and moral development.