Hurricanes Don’t Discriminate — Our Schools Shouldn’t Either
Champions for Children Op-Ed Series
When the rain comes down hard and the winds pick up, everyone runs to shelter. But what happens when that shelter — your school — locks you out not with keys, but with narrow doorways, high basins, and stairs instead of ramps?
For too many children living with disabilities in Belize, emergency shelters aren’t safe havens. They’re obstacle courses.
That’s the daily — and dangerous — reality for students when schools lack inclusive infrastructure. And in a country where hurricanes and floods are part of life, that’s not just inconvenient. It’s unacceptable.
Let me paint a picture of it with words: A hurricane is closing in. Your child’s school becomes an emergency shelter. But when you arrive, the bathroom stall is too narrow, the sink too high, the doors impossible to get through with a wheelchair. For children with disabilities, this is more than a bad dream — it’s been their reality in Belize for far too long.
But here’s the hopeful twist: things are starting to change.
Thanks to UNICEF Belize’s Shock Responsive WASH Programme, supported by ECHO and the Government of Belize, schools like Garden City Primary in Belmopan are leading a quiet revolution — one flush handle and sink basin at a time.
“In the past, we didn’t have a bathroom that was retrofitted per se to deal with students with diverse needs,” said administrative principal Kevin Hall.
That meant real, daily challenges and increased risks during emergencies like hurricanes and floods. “It was a bit of a challenge for them,” he shared. “Now we are happy that we have that.”
Recently, through the UNICEF partnership, Garden City, an approved national hurricane shelter, got a brand new bathroom specifically designed for its special needs classroom — and renovations to two other bathrooms in one of the main school buildings. “One of those stalls was retrofitted… to accommodate the wheelchair,” he explained. “And also one of the wash basins in that area was retrofitted so that the kids could go right up there and access that water.”
But the story isn’t just about pipes and porcelain. It’s about dignity. It’s about equity.
“One of the major functions of the school,” he said, “is to ensure that we have equity — not only in terms of academics but in terms of equal access to portable drinking water [and] a clean environment.”
And the results? You can see it in the kids' faces.
“Yes,” the principal said with a smile. “They’re definitely more joyful, more cheerful… They’re happier.”
Let’s pause on that: more joyful, more cheerful, happier. All because a child can use the bathroom like everyone else. That’s not just an upgrade — that’s transformation.
This isn’t just about what’s fair. It’s about what’s smart. When disaster strikes — and in Belize, it often does — we need schools to be safe and accessible to all students. Inclusive WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifesaver. It’s peace of mind for families. It’s a lifeline for children who have been left out for too long.
And yet, not every school has caught up. That’s why the principal has a message for policymakers:
“I would definitely encourage them to expand this project… partner with organizations such as UNICEF and NGOs to expand this program to other schools,” he said.
“All schools, regardless if they have a special ed center, have students with disabilities. Having this facility… definitely is a plus. It helps students experience some level of normalcy despite the constraints they may have.”
So here’s the call: Let’s scale this up. Let’s retrofit every school, from primary to tertiary level. Let’s train our teachers, upgrade our emergency shelters, and build policies that see all children.
Because when you build for inclusion, you build for everyone.
And when a child feels safe and seen, they don't just survive emergencies — they thrive, every single day.
Hipolito Novelo (Digital Editor, News 5 Belize)
Hipolito Novelo is an award-winning journalist from Belize. With over twelve years in the field, Hipolito has worked in broadcast journalism, radio, and print and is now the Digital Editor at Great Belize Productions (News 5 Belize). Hipolito specialises in the analysis of complex social and political issues. His work includes correspondence for the New York Times and collaborations with Dorothy St. Pictures, Discovery+, Campside Media, and The Guardian UK. To stay current, Hipolito acquired skills in data analysis, multimedia production, and social media management, enhancing his ability to tell engaging and impactful stories. Hipolito has participated in professional development programmes, including business journalism training by the Media Institute of the Caribbean and sessions from the Inter-American Development Bank, the Institute of the Americas, the Young Reporters Programme, CNN, and the Foreign Press Centres (US Department of State). His journalism increasingly focuses on climate change, exploring its intersection with economic inequality and global governance. He is also a mentor for Climate Tracker. He supports and trains journalists in climate reporting in the region. Additionally, Hipolito is the country focal point for the Caribbean Youth Climate Council (CYCC).
