Since 2023, Belize’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MOECST) has challenged primary and secondary institutions across the country through its MoRE (Ministry of Education Recognition) Campaign. The initiative pushes schools to extend learning beyond traditional classroom walls across five core pillars: digital learning, student health, inclusive education, community involvement, and creative skill-building. Participating schools document their outreach and extracurricular efforts, accumulate points based on the scope and impact of their work, and earn national recognition for going above and beyond standard academic requirements. Today, one small primary school in the Stann Creek District town of Dangriga has emerged as the campaign’s national leader, outscoring every other participating institution in the country to set a new benchmark for what community-centered education can achieve. That school is Epworth Methodist Primary School.
Walk through the halls and outdoor spaces of Epworth Methodist, and it is immediately clear that learning here extends far beyond textbooks and standardized tests. The campus buzzes with purpose-driven activity, from cultural preservation groups to skill-building clubs that bring students, parents and local community members together as equal participants.
One of the school’s most beloved student groups is the GAMAE club, which centers Garifuna cultural heritage through a integrated framework of Arts, Medicine, Agriculture and Education. Nine-year-old Evonay Lopez, who has been part of the group since 2025, says the club has let her develop artistic skills while connecting to her roots. “I’ve learned a lot of songs and a lot of dances,” she explained, echoing the sentiment shared by fellow member Nila Mckoy. “I love being in this group because I love talking Garifuna. I love singing and dancing, and I love the history of Garifuna,” Mckoy shared.
Beyond cultural programming, Epworth’s roster of student-led clubs builds practical, marketable skills that students can carry into adulthood. The school’s crochet club walks students through turning raw yarn into finished handmade goods, with one young student sharing that she completed a beautiful scarf over just three days of focused work. The braiding club centers Black hair education and styling as a cultural and professional skill, with parents actively participating in workshops alongside their children. “You’ll notice that all of our hair is 4C hair. But these are just beautiful styles that they’re beginning to learn and this is an improvement because by the time they’re in their future, they already have talent and businesses that they can start,” explained parent Phrislee Palacio.
The school’s chess club hones critical thinking and strategic problem-solving, while the recycling club turns everyday waste into useful products to teach environmental stewardship. Under the leadership of coordinator Charles Diaz, students transform discarded plastic water pouches into reusable tote bags, carrying cases, and even handcrafted hammocks. Parent and volunteer Renelyn Tulcey notes that the project delivers a clear, actionable lesson for students and the broader community: “Our world could definitely be a better place if we learn how to use recycled materials—or reuse them.” The school even maintains its own on-campus garden, where students grow fresh fruits and vegetables to learn agricultural skills and sustainable food practices.
This expansive, community-integrated model of education is not a sudden shift for Epworth—it is the product of nearly a decade of intentional vision from principal Felecia Zuniga Palacio. Palacio emphasizes that high-quality education cannot be delivered by school staff alone; it requires active buy-in and participation from the entire community. “Why is it important that we do more? It takes more than just teachers and students and the principal to run a school. It takes the community and we want to share with our stakeholders who have that faith in us that we are doing more to ensure that our children have quality and sound education here at Epworth Methodist school,” Palacio said.
The school’s innovative approach has not gone unnoticed by education leaders. Stann Creek District Education Manager David Cano confirms that Epworth has emerged as a trailblazer for the MoRE Campaign across the country. “Epworth is one of the schools in this district that is leading the adoption of the MoRE Program. I believe they have more submissions than others in the district and perhaps leading the country as well in primary schools,” Cano noted. Last year, Epworth secured the top spot nationally with a total of 285 MoRE Campaign points, becoming the first school in Dangriga to earn the program’s official recognition banner—an honor that included a personal visit from the Minister of Education.
For Cano, the impact of Epworth’s work extends far beyond the walls of the school itself. The MoRE Campaign’s ultimate goal is to shape a new generation of well-rounded Belizean citizens, and Epworth’s model proves that goal is achievable through community collaboration. “We want to create a citizen of Belize that is involved, that is knowledgeable, that is creative, who can problem solve and works well,” Cano explained.
Unlike many institutions that wait for external investment to expand student opportunities, Epworth Methodist Primary School has built its transformative model from within, leveraging local community resources and parent engagement to lift up its students. In doing so, it has set a national standard that every primary and secondary school across Belize can aspire to match. Primary and secondary schools across Belize can participate in the MoRE Campaign year-round by submitting their programming through the official MOECST website at moecst.gov.bz/more.