Belize's Wonder Women! Ofelia Novelo

For the month of January we are proud to announce that Ofelia Novelo is our Belize Wonder Woman!

"To educate girls is to reduce poverty."- Kofi Annan

We feature one such individual, one that through her gallant efforts has worked hard to better the lives of women in Orange Walk. We feature Mrs. Ophelia Novelo nee Campos, founder and integral part of the group MAMAS ( Mujeres Ayudando a Mujeres A Superarse (Women helping women to excel) ). Mrs. Novelo is an artisan and instructor born in Orange Walk Town. Possessing the natural ability to care and nurture others, at the tender age of 15, she put her skills to the test and joined the medical field as a nurse at the old Orange Walk Hospital, where she assisted in birth deliveries. At age 18 she met and married Mr. Robert Novelo and they were blessed with five children. In 2005, she formed a group known as MAMAS that provides an outlet for women who wish to become self-sufficient. Training is offered in variety of fields including, but not limited to, sewing, cake decorating, beading and others. The program has graduated over 500 women and by extension touching the lives of thousands. She believes that not everyone has the opportunity or means to attend college or university but they are surely able to learn a skill to become independent, successful and most of all open their own business to be able to provide for their family and themselves.

Presently Mrs. Novelo is a volunteer and vice president of the Helpage group in the Orange Walk District, where she assists in organizing clinics for the elderly.

U.S. Embassy Belize