Esther Ayuso facts for kids

Esther Ayuso (born November 1958) is a very important person in Belize. She was the first woman in Belize to become an architect! An architect is someone who designs buildings. Esther Ayuso has designed many important buildings, especially hospitals, to help people in Belize.

She also worked to help women in Belize. She was a Senator, which is like a lawmaker, and led the National Women's Commission. In 2015, she received a special award called the Order of the British Empire for all her hard work for the community.

Early Life and Education

Esther Josefina Ayuso was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in November 1958. Her mother, Josefina, worked at a bank. Her father, Oscar Ayuso, was from Belize and also worked in banking. Soon after Esther was born, her family moved back to Belize City in what was then called British Honduras.

Esther went to St. Catherine’s Academy High School in Belize. She graduated in 1975. That same year, she went back to Caracas, Venezuela. She wanted to study architecture there. The colleges in Venezuela had different rules for getting in. Esther had to take some high school classes again to be accepted. She worked very hard and finished these classes in just two years. Then, she got into the architecture program at Universidad Central de Venezuela.

In 1983, Esther graduated with a degree in architectural technology. She returned to Belize but could not find work right away. So, she went back to Venezuela in 1983. There, she met and married another architect. They had two sons in 1990 and 1991. The family lived in Caracas until 1992.

Building a Career in Belize

After returning to Belize, Esther Ayuso first worked at Professional Engineering Services. She was an architectural associate there until 1995. Then, she and her husband started their own company called Arcade Ltd. They designed many homes and public buildings.

Esther is famous for her work on public projects. She helped expand Belize Medical Associates from a small clinic into a hospital. She also remodeled the Cleopatra White and Matron Robert polyclinics. Polyclinics are like small medical centers. She also worked on the Hoy Eye Clinic and several branches of Atlantic Bank Ltd. In 1996, they welcomed their third son.

In 2000, a big storm called Hurricane Keith damaged Arcade Ltd. After this, Esther and her husband focused on giving advice about architecture and construction.

Public Service and Women's Rights

In 2006, the Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow, chose Esther Ayuso to be a Senator. A Senator helps make laws for the country. She served in the Senate for two years.

In 2008, Esther became the chair of the new National Women's Commission (NWC). This group works to improve the lives of women. In the same year, she also became Belize's representative to the Inter-American Commission of Women. She still holds this important position.

Under her leadership, the NWC did many important things. They studied how to update the National Gender Policy. They also held meetings to create a Gender Studies program in Belize. This program helps people learn about gender issues. The NWC also ran a "Women in Politics Project." This project taught women about politics and how to run for elected office.

Hospital Designs and Awards

Esther Ayuso was one of the people who started the Belize City Local Building Authority in 2009. This group helps make sure buildings are safe and follow rules. They also help the city council create rules for building and safety.

In 2011, work began on a new Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. A PICU is a special part of a hospital for very sick children. Esther Ayuso designed this important unit. The construction was planned to be finished by December 2015. It also included a NICU wing for newborn babies.

In 2015, Esther Ayuso received a special honor. She was appointed an Officer of The Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award was given to her for her many contributions to the community in Belize. It also recognized her strong dedication to women's rights.

See also

In Spanish: Esther Ayuso para niños