Liberty Care Program

Liberty’s care and rehabilitation centre – Liberty Children’s Home – is situated in Ladyville, on the outskirts of Belize City, and opened in the summer of 2005.

The Children

Liberty Children’s Home is licensed to house up to 40 children, predominantly between 0-5 years of age. However, older children who have younger siblings in care are and will always be accommodated. All of the children at the care centre have been abandoned, abused or orphaned and many have disabilities, special needs or are HIV positive. Liberty Foundation works closely with the Belize Human Services Department in the placement of children. The individual progress of each child is monitored based upon the child’s cognitive, social/emotional and physical development; and their response to therapy and care.

The Philosophy

Liberty Foundation focuses on a child-centred approach influenced by the Pikler method of childcare, a well researched approach developed to prevent the damaging effects of institutionalisation on children. Liberty also draws from the Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches that aim for the fullest possible development of the whole child.

The Buildings

Belize has an unfortunate history of devastating hurricanes. The care centre consists of 5 monolithic domes, ecological structures which were specifically chosen due to being entirely hurricane proof.

Foster/Adoption

Working alongside Belize Human Services, Liberty Foundation strives to ensure successful placements with foster or adoptive families within Belize, if not reunification with the children’s family.

Advisory Board

The Trustees of Liberty Foundation and the Board of Directors of Liberty Children’s Home together with the Human Services Department, maintain close relations with the Pikler Institute in Budapest, Montessori Foundations in the UK and US and Whole Child USA in order to maintain a high quality standard of care at Liberty Children’s Home.