Some ‘nation builders’ have reached a certain fame status within Belize because of the promotion of certain services or projects that they undertake.  However, there are just as many (if not more) potential nation builders who are so altruistic and humble that, rather than promoting themselves, they continue their good work in the shadows.  Ofelia Novelo, the inspiration and coordinator behind “Mamas” women’s training group in Orange Walk, is one such person. 

Born the eldest of eight siblings into the Campos family, Ofelia learnt her duty as a responsible family member from the tender age of eight, caring for her younger siblings during her mother’s frequent absences from the household.  This nurtured in her an appreciation of the qualities needed to become a responsible citizen, which is a role she has continued to take very seriously throughout her life. 

Upon graduation from La Inmaculada Primary School at age 13, Ofelia announced to her father that she wanted to find employment to be able to support herself and assist with the upbringing of her younger siblings; this she did in the capacity of a Nurse’s Aide at the Orange Walk Northern Regional Hospital.  She continued in this role for several years until she married and began a family of her own in 1972, raising four children who are all professionally successful today, a sure sign of good upbringing.

By 1992, when her role as a mother seemed to no longer warrant full-time devotion, Ofelia began to feel a calling to return to serving her community, and she enrolled as a volunteer with the Orange Walk branch of Help Age which involved visiting and caring for elderly residents who lacked family support and company.  The following year in 1993, international funding from Canada provided the financial support for a domiciliary program run through Help Age, which Ofelia coordinated for its six year duration.  Upon completion of this full time role, Ofelia returned as a volunteer, but she found that she still had excess energy and inspiration for creating a new project, and she set about finding a worthwhile initiative that she could manage with the assistance of old school friends.

And so was born her inspirational trade-training project, “Mujeres ayudando mujeres a superarse”, more commonly referred to under the catchy acronym, Mamas.  Mamas provides training to women of all ages (to date, participants have ranged from 14 years to 58 years old), in a range of trades including cake-decorating, sewing, beading, cooking and handicrafts.  Initially, the classes were conducted in a spare room at the Help Age headquarters in the town, where Ofelia still found time to volunteer alongside her growing responsibilities with Mamas.  However, quickly the popularity of the course meant that the classes outgrew their premises, in light of which her husband agreed to renovate their household garage and convert it into a large classroom.  Ever since, women from Orange Walk (and now from the surrounding area) attend classes at Ofelia’s home at #23 San Narciso Street.  Last year alone saw the graduation of 78 students who are now competent in their chosen trade; these women can now not only earn a living through cottage industries, but they are also able to return to their local neighbourhoods and teach the trade to even more students; this is a particularly valuable asset for the village learners, who come from as far afield as Sarteneja, San Carlos, San Felipe and Yo Creek. 

In 2007, Ofelia was awarded recognition as a “Citizen of the Community” under the umbrella organisation BelPAC (Belizeans Promoting Active Citizenship), and she used the $1000 prize to create a better learning environment for her students, through improving the structure of the classroom, and purchasing tables and chairs to improve the students’ comfort.  More recently, in August of this year, Ofelia was nominated for national recognition as a commendable citizen and community activist of Orange Walk and the surrounding area.

Anyone who knows Ofelia, and the work that she undertakes, realises that she is full of admirable determination and altruism, always striving to better the potential of her fellow citizens.  There seems no end to her compassion, and she now runs a month long summer school for children between the ages of 8 and 14 years, in a double bid to entertain them during their long vacations, and teach them skills that will be undeniably indispensible in later life.  Even suffering a series of health problems, Ofelia remains determined to continue her good work, and even talks about her vision of upgrading her classroom again in order to be able to accommodate even more students each class.  For now, at least, there seems to be nothing which will stop Ofelia from fulfilling her duties as an exemplary citizen, helping creating a better world for Belizeans in the future.  Ofelia Novelo has been – and undoubtedly will continue to be – nothing short of exemplary in her capacity as a Belizean nation builder.

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