A Special Visit from Yo Creek Compassion School
Last Friday, Cubola had the pleasure of welcoming students from Yo Creek Compassion School in Orange Walk as part of a wider educational tour to Benque. Their day began with a stop at BRC Printers before arriving at our office for a morning of map reading, storytelling, and creativity.
At Cubola, Montse Casademunt offered a short presentation on the history of the company—starting from our very first publication, the Atlas of Belize. Students learned about the importance of maps for understanding our country, as well as for researching and locating the many events that happen every day in their communities and across Belize.
One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity to meet local author and illustrator Ian Gibson, creator of The Land of the Night Sun, published earlier this year. Ian shared his personal journey into writing and art, discussing the inspirations behind the book and the creative process that led to its publication. He also performed a lively reading from the story, complete with an impressively loud howler monkey performance. Illustrations from the book were on display, and many students took home signed copies.
While the older students explored maps and literature, children from the Lower Division enjoyed an immersive cultural experience hosted by Karla Pinelo from the House of Culture. Through animated storytelling, they heard traditional tales from the area, including the legendary Chatona. The visit was filled with music and dancing, with La Chatona herself making a guest appearance. Students took turns wearing her iconic mannequin and twirling around, bringing the beloved cultural figure to life.
Inside Cubola
The Inside Cubola programme is one of our favourite initiatives—an invitation to schools across Belize to step inside the world of publishing and discover how books come to life. Through guided visits to our office in Benque Viejo del Carmen, students get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative and technical processes that turn ideas into stories, stories into manuscripts, and manuscripts into books. Our goal is to nurture curiosity, celebrate Belizean literature, and inspire young minds to imagine their own role in the world of reading and writing.
