Background: As part of the Education and Social Justice Project, in May 2023, undergraduate student Renee Mutare (SFS’24) interviewed the director of Project HEAL, Ms. Tina Cuellar, at St. Martin de Porres (SMDP) in Belize City, Belize. In this interview, the director discusses the work of Project HEAL (PH) and its lasting impact in the local community.
Okay. We can dive right into it. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I've been working with Project HEAL for almost 9 to 10 years now. I come from a large Catholic family. I have five sisters. My mom has been working with the Jesuits for a long time. She used to be the assistant headmaster at SJC [St. John's College], and then she retired. And she was a teacher for a bit. She recently passed, but her relationship with the Jesuits has been ongoing because I remember as a teenager meeting a lot of the Jesuits back then. So, I started Project HEAL, literally, with this TV, not this specific one, but with a desk and a laptop. And at that point it was an office over with our Belize 2020 donors. We spent a lot of time for that first year just kind of doing assessments in the sense of meeting with teachers, meeting with stakeholders, kind of figuring out what are the needs. One of the biggest things, when it comes to Project HEAL, in general, is that we want to make sure that we're meeting the needs, that we're not telling them what they need, but we want to figure out, okay, what is it that you need, and how can we best serve? That's more about Project HEAL than it is about me. Did you want me, personally, or what were you going for?
Anything is fine.
I have a bachelor's in psychology from Saint Louis University. I have a master's in counseling psychotherapy from the University of the West Indies. So, I studied in Jamaica, and then I studied in Saint Louis. I like the duality of the different aspects of the degree, the American aspect, but I also enjoy the Caribbean aspect because I feel like that's more applicable here. I enjoy the outdoors, I love the Cayes, I love hiking, I love stuff like that. I have an eight-year-old, and I love dogs. That's a little bit about me.
Alright. You've already described your relationship to Project HEAL, but for my understanding, are you the one that founded it?
Essentially, I guess. I'm not great with accolades, but essentially, yes, I am. I guess the founding member. It was just me. It was just me. And what ended up starting off with me, was I did an advisory board because I didn't feel comfortable just making decisions by myself. So, I created an advisory board, which was a mixture of educators and other therapists and other NGOs in Belize. And we would meet once a month to kind of start making decisions and what projects and programs we would start introducing to the school. Again, a lot of this was data-driven, meaning we'd collect data on past academic scores, interviews with teachers, interviews with parents, interviews with principals, and we would design programs tailored for that. There was some American influence whereby, with our donors, they had different programs that they had created in the U.S. for at-risk families and children, like Access Academy. That’s what comes immediately to mind. So, they did have some influence, but we tailored it to what our needs were here at St. Martin’s. And so, yeah, I guess I was the founding person because it was just me and then my board at the time. Eventually, I then hired one person that ran HEAL Academy, and then we started doing the HEAL Counseling and then the ETBO and then the SEL program and then the literacy in-between. So, there were just constant add-ons, as programs went on, based on the need for the children and their families.
And in which year did you start Project HEAL?
I want to say 2013 because my daughter was born in 2014.
Can you describe the current structure of Project HEAL?
So, the way it works is, I am the director, which means I don't, and that's one of the sucky parts about being the director. It's more administrative, so I don't get to do the one-on-ones. I don't work with the children in the capacity that I used to, initially. So, when you think about what you call this organogram, it's me, and then I have coordinators for each program. So, there's a director, then there's the literacy coordinator, there's the ETBO coordinator, and then there's Stasha the counseling coordinator. Stasha has Kia under her. ETBO coordinator Stephanie has a tutor below her, and then for literacy, she essentially works with the entire lower division teachers.
Would you please explain what ETBO is?
It's essentially a high school program. It's called Ensuring They Beat the Odds. It's a high school intervention program for graduates of St Martin's. Every year we pick about five students, and we try to maintain a capacity of about 25, and we work with them and their families to assist them throughout high school. And that might range from helping them with books, helping them with tuition, helping them with uniforms. Every individual child package is different, so it's not a one-size-fits-all model. Where you went downstairs is where their resource center is, which is just basically an open space with desks, access to computers, printers, and a tutor so that they can come after school and get any additional assistance they need.
So, it's specifically for the students that are part of ETBO program.
For graduates of St. Martin's.
Okay. What are the demographics for these students?
Demographics in terms of how many males, how many females—Stephanie would be able to tell you that. And I do think we have more girls, offhand, I know that. And I know that we're getting ready to graduate six students this year, and they come from all different high schools. So, some are Catholic high schools, all girls, all boys, some are coed, some are government schools. It varies. So. I want to say, we have anywhere between five or maybe more schools, high schools involved.
Within the St. Martin’s area or...?
No, within the city limits.
Belize City?
Mhm.
So what has it been like being a director of Project HEAL?
Yeah, I think…I think there was more excitement when there was more on, like, hands-on work. Being director is more administrative, ensuring that reports are read, ensuring that reports are handed in, trying to look for future funding, trying to make sure the donors are happy. So, I think I like both roles. This one has a little bit less responsibility, as it's not as rigid in terms of scheduling. There's a lot more flexibility, but I've enjoyed it. I think seeing how Project HEAL has grown over the years and how many families it has impacted has been definitely inspiring because they'll still come to you to today's date. “Miss, I'm working.” “Miss, I'm doing this myself, successfully doing that.” So, I think hearing the stories and seeing how they've grown in their own capacity has been very rewarding. That's what I'm looking for.
Why did you start Project HEAL? What was its vision and its goal when it was created?
So, I've been a therapist, and I worked at St. John's College, which is Jesuit, as well. I took a break, and I worked at Restore Belize, where myself and another program officer at that time created what we call the Metamorphosis Project, which is essentially working with at-risk boys. And that gave me an opportunity to be exposed to this area in particular. And I think, when the opportunity arose, I had already started working with at-risk children, well, boys at the time. I wanted to dig deeper into it. I'm a parishioner here at the church, and giving back, particularly to this community, meant a lot. It's not the community that I grew up in. I grew up also on the South Side, but not in this community, in another community down north. But I think what drew me to it was the reality that it's only fair for everybody to get a fair chance at education in life. You know, like, we don't ask to be born into this world, and our circumstances aren't what we necessarily always want. But, if I can help a child and a family learn and work with them and hold their hands through the process, not enable them, but encourage them, it's been extremely rewarding. And I think that's one of the biggest things, when it comes to Project HEAL. We don't want to enable. We want to encourage, we want to walk with you on this journey, but not to do it all for you.
Has this mission or these goals changed over time?
Definitely, because I think demographics have changed. I mean, right now, I think, even over the summer, I think we have some changes to make because COVID[-19] has changed so much. And so, I think our goals have varied based on what's going on contextually in our school and then contextually within the country. And so, that has a lot to do with it. So, yeah, goals have varied. I mean, at one point the [counselors] were only doing counseling, then at one point they were doing life skills, and now they're doing life skills and counseling, and now juggling both doesn't seem feasible. So, it's like, what do we do? Where do we go with that? And, I think, in situations like that, that's when we go back to the people we serve. What is best for you? Is it better for us to be in the classroom, or is it better for us to be doing the work one-on-one?
What do you think is needed in the St. Martin’s community?
I think it's time to redo what we did the first time. And I say that in the sense that I think there needs to be more consultations with the population we serve. I think COVID has had an impact on everybody's life, and I think that it's important to reevaluate what that impact is and to see how we can better serve.
You said, "...to redo what you did the first time." What did you do the first time?
We spent months just sitting with stakeholders; we literally interviewed every teacher, some parents, some kids, administrators, parishioners. And we listened. We listened. Then, we took that information to the then-advisory board to decide, okay, what is it that we're going to do, you know? At that point, they were talking a lot about Standard 3 being a gap year. Like, that's when, like, they would see a shift in academic performance. And so that's when HEAL Academy got introduced, where we would work with the kids from Standard 3 after school.
What would you do with them after school?
HEAL Academy was a combination of academics and nonacademic. So, we would push English and math. We also do extracurricular stuff, like drumming, yoga, martial arts, at one point, arts and crafts, at another point. We made sure to try to hit some level of a balance that it wasn't just educational.
And who was conducting it?
At that point, I had a coordinator for that program. That was Fiona Stain. So, she was the coordinator, and she made all the arrangements for it.
So, back to the question of, “What do you think is most needed?” This question is, "In what ways has Project HEAL addressed those needs?"
I think Project HEAL came out of the first cry they had as a school, and it was literally, apparently, at a parents meeting where the donors were there. There was a retired American couple sitting in that meeting. And what the cry was mainly for, at that point, was counseling. And so, because I had the background when we started HEAL Academy, I was seeing kids, so I was doing what Stasha and Kia were doing, so there was a combination going on. We created a playroom, made sure it was set, and I saw children, as well. And so, a counselor was one of the biggest cries, and I'm pretty sure it still is one of the biggest concerns for the population. So, I think it was then, and it still is today.
Are there ways that Project HEAL is not responding to those needs?
I wish I had more counselors. I wish I didn't have to have the [counselors] juggle as much. They juggle quite a bit. And when I say they juggle quite a bit, we've been doing life skills and being in the classroom. I wish I had a clinical psychologist that would give us assessments at a dollar, which is not going to happen. I wish that there was more parental involvement. If there were evaluations done. So that would be my magic wand, like, fix it all.
It even ties to what I was going to ask you next. If money or time was no object, what would you do with Project HEAL?
Definitely the clinical psychologists and the child psychologists. The amount of money that costs is just insane. What that would lead for would be for assessments. In my mind, what, then, that would lead for, is better care for the children. So, it would mean that, let's say, after assessments for all our students coming in, we realize 10 of them are on the spectrum. Then, there would be an ability to create a space and personnel for those autistic children to be able to put people out of class, to learn in a different capacity, but still to be in a regular system. You know, I mean, it's done in the U.S.; it's not brain surgery. It's possible. So, if money wasn't an object, that would, totally, be something. Literacy would be across the board because, right now, literacy is only Infant 1 to Standard 2; the literacy would be all the way to Standard 4. I would love to pay the teachers more money so that they would be, maybe, more vested, or even offer them some teacher aides because some of those classrooms are big, and, you know, you'd want to have a teacher aide, and it not just be you all the time. So, that's another one. But I think it would be just curtailing more programs that suit the needs of the students and the teachers.
What are the barriers that are preventing you from doing that right now?
Money, money, money, money, money, money.
Have you tried, in any way, to implement any of these things that we just talked about?
I think when I know that there is an ability for funding, I do, and it's a serious need. We have, in the past, paid for an assessment, but an assessment, for the most part, is, like, 1,200 Belize dollars, which is a lot of money. That’s like U.S. $600. And the problem is, I'll do the assessment, but there's nobody to do the follow-up care. So, it's not always an easy task. So no, we haven't been able to cut through some of the barriers. I do think, maybe, one of the ways we have is that Stasha has been good at learning how to work better with the families, just as opposed to working with the individual. And I do think that's a barrier to cut through because that's important.
How would you describe the overall impact of Project HEAL on the St. Martin’s community?
I would hope, positive. I think we're so many years in, people know who we are. I think the quick assumption for the community is that we give out scholarships, and we're going to help you in some way. So, I think whenever they're in a jam, there is always the cry, "What can Project HEAL do for me?" And so, I do think that there's that knowledge. We're more known now than we were many moons ago. I think that the trust has built between the school and us, and so that relationship remains steadfast. I think the administration has had, and I say administration, I mean the priests, have changed so many times that it's just, it's been hard for some of those relationships to grow solid.
Parents, teachers, and even some of these people that I understand are the directors of the school, administrators, administrators, do they understand the goal of the mission or the work that Project HEAL is trying to do?
Yes, I think the understanding from the administrators and the teachers over the years has been better.
What about with parents?
I think that's a learning curve. I think so, yes, because I do think parents become known, ask for the counselor, or they ask, “How can I get my child involved in something?” or, “Is ETBO offering any scholarships now?” So, I do think it's improved over the years.
Do you have any specific examples of why you said that the impact is positive?
Because they come and ask now. So, the fact that the awareness is greater now, there's the ability and the comfort to ask. I think trust is built, as well. And so, that also helps.
I'm not sure if you know more about this, but when do you, when and how do you determine that the child is ready to graduate from counseling?
That would be more with the girls, individually. I do supervise. So, we do casing. So, what happens in a casing is they'll bring their files, and I'll read the notes. And so, we will, then, say, “Okay, so you've been seeing Renee.” We [are] usually, like, “You've been seeing Renee for eight sessions. This is what you've accomplished, what you want to accomplish, where you're at.” And so, a lot of times those meetings are an opportunity to discuss direction, in whether we need to continue or whether we need to close. And so, I think, when we're closing is when you're getting to a place where the problematic behavior that was identified initially is becoming significantly less. The child is implementing adequate coping mechanisms more and more.
How has the counseling program influenced overall well-being? That's behavior, attitude, attentiveness, responsiveness of students and their families within the community?
I don't think I get to see that one as firsthand as I would like to. But I think you do hear it… And so, you will hear stories about that, or they'll make recommendations for the person to come to Project HEAL. So, I think occasionally you hear stories that, "We me, so happy,” like, in Creole, “We me so happy fi Project HEAL, they were so good with our kids.” Like, “We want to get our next child involved." We get that a lot. So, like, if you work with a kid in ETBO, chances are, when the next kid comes along, they want us to work with the other child. And so, I think that is as best a picture of us is we get painted based on our impact.
Can you talk more about parental involvement, or even just community involvement?
I think parental involvement has definitely been more since COVID. I think, because COVID forced us to do more online calling, and you couldn't necessarily always have access to the children. The relationships with the parents started to build, and with that came their involvement, a shift in their involvement. In terms of the community, I think the parish has known about Project HEAL for some time too, as well. And, I think, through that, they, in some instances, offer where they can offer help. We used to do a lot more fundraising. That used to be one of the bigger things that we did. We haven't done it as much lately, but I think when it came to that, the fundraising aspect, they were always consistent with trying to help out how they can.
May you please describe some of the programs that are done by Project HEAL?
All of the programs?
How many do you have?
Well, we have the counseling one you're working on. Then we have ETBO, which is a high school assistance program, and then, we have the literacy program, and then, we have the SEL program, the social emotional learning program for the teachers and the administration.
And these are the ones that are currently running? Is Heal Academy still running? Was it discontinued temporarily or...?
It was discontinued due to COVID, and it hasn't picked up back because of funding
The literacy programs, this is at St. Martin’s only?
Mhm.
ETBO is around the city?
Mhm.
Counseling is at St. Martin’s only?
Mhm.
And SEL is...?
Just for the teachers and administration.
May you please describe your relationship with the St. Martin’s administration?
As in the principal, or as in the Father Andres? That's two different things.
You could speak on that separately.
With the administration, it's been great. I mean, I think one of the biggest things has always been that, in order for Project HEAL to serve, we have to have a good relationship with them. And that's one that both Stasha and Kia understand clearly. Our literacy coach is actually part of that administration, Roxane, so really, no complaints in that area. But Father Andres, it's been challenging. His vision is not clear, and it's not shared. So, I think trying to figure out where he's at has been hard. And I like clear communication.
What do you mean it's not shared? It's not common between you or…?
As in, it is not physically shared. You don't know what his intent is. Does that make sense?
What are some of the key achievements or success stories that you can share regarding Project HEAL's impact on social justice in the community?
I think our graduates at ETBO are definitely one. I think the fact that I shared it with you guys is like Justin Park's story. Did I share that? Maybe, not. It was a quick video, I think, of how Justin, when we met Justin, Justin had recently been shot. Him and his father had been shot at face value. And how we worked with Justin from Standard 3 right up until he graduated high school. And to this day, if Justin needs a recommendation, the times he's changed jobs or entertained going back to school, this is where he comes. And so, when I think of a success story, in terms of social justice, and where he's been to, where he's at now, that feels like a success story. I think a lot of our kids that have transitioned from HEAL Academy into ETBO and graduate, those are where a lot of our successes are. And I do think, in the midst of that transition, there are a couple of them that have gone through counseling. Not all, but some of them have gone through counseling. If they haven't gone through counseling, we still have some level of group dynamics where Stephanie, our ETBO coordinator, meets with them during the summer to kind of do some more psycho-educational stuff with them too, as well. So, there's also that aspect.
Considering now that HEAL Academy was discontinued because of funding and also because of COVID, how do you think that's going to affect...?
Well, Stephanie and I have been talking about it, and she talks about a disconnect with the younger ones. So, we have first, second, third, fourth form. So, freshman, junior, sophomore year. And how, with the freshman and sophomore, she doesn't feel as connected. And it was interesting. It's in having that conversation with Ryan, we realized that that was a missing gap. When we had HEAL, it was a transition. So, they transition from HEAL to ETBO because HEAL has been nonexistent since COVID, which is about three years. We've just picked kids based on the recommendation of the administration. And in picking kids, we didn't get an opportunity to spend time with them. And that varies from home visits to working with them individually, being with their families, individually. And so we realize that that's a gap, and it's a gap that we're hoping to address over the summertime.
Alright. Can you elaborate more on how you pick the children, or how the administration ends up picking them?
The administration. We don't get involved. We let them lead. And again, that's the beauty of our relationship. There's a level of trust that's been developed. They know what our program does. We're clear on that. We ask for as best of a balance between boys and girls, but they'll give us a baseline of who they think and where they think the need is best.
Can you tell me what Project HEAL was like before COVID?
There were a lot more like home visits, a lot more hands-on stuff. A lot of that has been limited because of COVID, but we are getting back to that, more home visits, obviously the face-to-face counseling has started back, more human interaction, I want to say, versus virtual interaction.
Home visits for…?
For families.
All of them that are involved in the Project HEAL?
For literacy, for ETBO, and for counseling.
What about in terms of staff?
Well, we did lose our HEAL Academy coordinator, but, other than that, we haven't lost anybody.
The programs that you ran?
Are still running, except HEAL Academy.
At full capacity?
Oh, I guess you could say, yeah.
What were your dreams prior to COVID?
We wanted to look more keenly at HEAL Academy to see how and if it was having an impact. And then COVID kind of completely squashed that. I'm excited because I think what Father Andres wants to do is bring back a version of HEAL Academy, not under us, on his own language, which is fine, and that's great. But again, the vision is not clear and not shared. So, there's the idea of what he wants to do, but he's very vague in what it is, really.
What were you thinking when COVID hit?
How would it affect social skills? You know, we were locked up for so long. What that meant, initially. I think when I personally lost my mom to COVID, I think I began to realize that there's also the bigger ramification of grief.
How did you try and adapt and adjust to COVID as an organization?
We would do virtual meetings, so everything went virtual, and that was a lot of virtual check-ins with the staff individually, but also as a whole. And so, we adapted like most people did. We entered the virtual world.
How did that affect the day-to-day running?
Quite a bit because it relied on a level of trust that they were getting their job done or they were at least attempting to get their job done. But we didn't stop the work. Work continued.
And what does that look like now?
Well, now we're back in full swing. Now everybody's here. I mean, it's back. Everybody's interacting.
Are there any challenges or limitations that Project HEAL faces in addressing social justice issues?
Funding will continue to be one of our biggest limitations. I think one of our biggest donors, I mean, he's given only U.S. $300,000 to U.S. $400,000 over the years. I mean, that alone has sustained us in many ways. But he's older, aging, and he's pretty much capped out. And so, now the need for new blood and new donors is definitely one of the limitations I'm struggling with. And with that limitation, then comes, okay, so if I can't fund, what project or projects do I cut? What areas do I cut? You know, where can I limit stuff? So, there's that for sure.
Are there any other challenges within the community?
I think grief is an unexplored area in this community, between the gun violence, the deaths to COVID, and just overall loss that they have been through—a lot of losses. And that's one of the areas that has not been explored.
How financially sustainable is Project HEAL?
I'm worried now. We've been going 10 years. It's more than a lot of projects, but I am now more worried than I have ever been because I think that considering our biggest donor is no longer with us, I worry how much we'll be able to get further funding. They're committed to fundraise over on their end, but there are also other projects that they're working on. So, financial stability is one that worries me on a regular basis. There is a fund that should be in the U.S. that we've talked about that, if it comes down to saying, okay, we're not going to be around in the next year or two, that would be our funds to phase out, to eventually leave the community but not abruptly so we can prepare and say, okay, well, this is their last year for counseling. So, last year of ETBO, this is our last year for literacy, like, we would mentally and emotionally prepare the community for that departure.
What feedback or insights have you received from parents, community members, regarding the counseling program and any other programs that you run: their impact on how they've changed their children's lives and their own perspective of social justice?
I think the impact they've shared with us has been positive. I think, sometimes, they want more. Well, we need to work on that behavior, we need to address that behavior, or sometimes, it's even, can I send my next kid? But I think that they have been verbal about their impact. I mean, and I also think the fact that referrals are coming in more, I mean, when we first started, referrals weren't that many, and I think now that we're at a place where we have to, like, have a waiting list and have to figure out who's going to go on, who's going to be seen next is indicative that the awareness is growing, and people want their children, as a parent, as a teacher, to be a part of the counseling program.
Can you describe any specific initiatives or activities that Project HEAL has implemented to promote inclusivity, diversity, and learning within the community?
I can't say within the community. I can say, within the school, I think, our literacy initiatives cover that. We prepare in terms of diversity for all types of learners. One of the things, like, for instance, we're going to have a literacy summer program. That's where we concentrate on our, for lack of a better word, different learners: children that have struggled throughout the course of the academic year and to read and to understand. And so, we would work with them separately for about four weeks over the summer break.
How are these children selected?
Based on their academic performance.
And it's up to the parents to decide whether or not to enroll them?
Mhm.
Is it a free program?
Mhm.
How does Project HEAL, specifically the counseling program, address the mental health needs of students who have experienced trauma or violence within the community?
Through our counseling program, that's an easy answer. Our counseling program, part of our counseling program, we do the ACES, we do assessment for PTSD. We assess whatever trauma they have experienced, and we try to target that area.
Do you know how many times students see counselors each week?
I know, based on the intake, if I look it up, but it varies from once a week to once every two weeks. And if they're tapering off, once a month to check in.
So, what are your thoughts on the frequency of these sessions?
I think I trust both counselors to know at this point when the frequency is important. When you're starting with a child for the first time, the frequency is very important, meaning that once a week, consistent visit, it's important. Consistency is important for children. But I also think I trust their judgment and pacing with them, that there's knowledge when it's time to taper off, when the child has gotten into a better pattern, behaviors are improved, coping mechanism are being instilled, that it's time to taper off.
When I say the word "heal," what comes to mind?
It's an acronym, actually. A lot of people don't realize that it's Hope Education Altering Lives.
And what do you think is your role when it comes to helping the people around heal from traumatic experiences?
I mean, I think, as a therapist, I want to help. I think I've been in the helping profession all my life. My role is to serve. Simple. To serve and help wherever I'm needed.
What do you see the role of counseling being in education?
I had this question the other day on a panel discussion. A lot of times now people talk about working with your inner child. You've heard about that, right? Like, oh, "my little girl that lives inside me, have I worked on her"? Because being a therapist, part of our thing, is also to ensure that you're good. And I was having a conversation with another therapist, and we talked about how perfect or how ideal our world would be if, instead of waiting into our twenties or thirties or older to work on our inner child, we actually work on our inner child when she's a child. And so, when you ask me that question, that's where my mind goes. The beauty of working with your inner child when he or she needs that attention.
Yes, you did. Can you share any future plans or goals for the project that Project HEAL has in place to further enhance its impact on social justice?
I need money. I need to work my butt off and getting more funding so that I can work on redoing some assessments and go back to listening. Go back to trying to understand what's going on in the community. I mean, I feel like there's so much pain around in so many different ways since COVID. But to really listen and see how we can be of service.
Would you just like to unpack a little bit on that? You said there's a lot of pain in so many different ways.
I think there's been a lot of grief and loss. I think COVID has affected a lot of health. You know, you talk about people now, more diabetes, like, heart attacks happening, having people dying more. So, I think that in order for what I would ideally want for Project HEAL is to do exactly what I said earlier, to sit and talk to people and to hear what's going on, to get a better idea of what those needs are and if we're really addressing them.
And looking into the future, what does your vision of social justice in education look like?
I think, when I think about that question, in general, I think of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. In this community, there are so many basic needs that are unmet for somebody that conceptualize the true term social justice. We need to meet the basic needs first. And so, I think that that's a hard understanding for many because the basic needs aren't.
Thank you for taking time, taking the time to talk to me about your experiences with Project HEAL. Is there anything else that you would like to add or talk about that I haven't asked for yet?
I think you covered quite a bit. No, I'm good. I don't have any questions.
Thank you.
