Angel Behind the Belly, The

What's New, Mar/Apr 2004 by Ware, Linda

This article is my tribute of respect, and heartfelt gratitude, to a remarkable teacher named Bea. Twelve years ago, Bea called me at Birthways, Inc., and introduced herself as a retired high school teacher who had taught sex education and family planning in her "Home Ec" classes for over thirty years. She said she'd been reading various newspaper articles about my "unusual" invention, The Empathy Belly® Pregnancy Simulator. She said she was especially intrigued by how it was being used in high schools as a teaching aid to "shatter the romantic illusions of teen pregnancy."

During recent years, she had become increasingly concerned as she watched this country's number of teenage pregnancies swell to over one million a year. Bea truly cared about her students, and had personally seen the consequences and heartache that come from "children having children." She wanted to do something that would really make a difference in helping to prevent further teenage pregnancies.

Providing a Hcmds-On Experience

As Bea put it, "working with so many teenagers over the years has taught me a lot about 'what makes kids really tick' and how they learn best - which is not nearly as much from teachers, as from their own experiences!" She felt that The Empathy Belly's hands-on, simulated "experience" of pregnancy would be a great way to give teenagers a unique and emotionally powerful reality check. It would let young people discover for themselves the many consequences of an unplanned, teen pregnancy.

Bea wanted to see more schools using this unique resource, but she knew firsthand how tight school budgets are. Therefore, she decided to help teachers buy The Empathy Belly herself. Initially, she gave "matching funds" to help six, high school teachers get "their belly." Then, she waited. After six months, she asked them for their candid feedback about how they had been using it, and the impact they felt it had had on their students. Their conclusions were so unanimously positive and enthusiastic, that Bea was convinced of The Empathy Belly's value.

A Decision to Help Teachers and Students

Bea called to say that, "with a little money left to her by her husband," she wanted to continue to help committed teachers buy The Empathy Belly. Specifically, if Birthways would create a Trust Fund legally established solely for this purpose, she would start it off with a donation of $10,000. Thus, in 1992, the "B.E.T.A. Fund" was born.

I remember how Bea emphasized to me that she was not a wealthy woman - by no means a Rockefeller or Gates. So, she wanted her money to be "stretched" to help as many deserving teachers as possible. And so to this day, I continue to be amazed by the fact that in the last twelve years, this retired school teacher of modest means has quietly, yet steadfastly, donated $95,000 to the B.E.T.A. Fund. This has enabled 262 teachers to get The Empathy Belly to use in their best efforts towards the prevention of teenage pregnancy.

As of 2001, teen pregnancies in the U.S. had decreased enough that politicians, grant foundations and school administrators have decreased their support of education aimed at teenage pregnancy prevention. They claim that, "the problem has been solved." But, Bea, as a veteran teacher, knows better: "Youth will always believe itself to be invincible, and therefore, they will always need a reality check."

When I think about the "ripple effect" that Bea's convictions and generosity have had on thousands of lives, I would say that she has, indeed, made a big difference in this world. I thank you, Bea, for all these years of truly caring about the kids, for believing in The Empathy Belly, and for believing in me. You have truly been, "the angel behind the belly!"

Submitted by Linda Ware, B.S.W., the Founder and Executive Director of Birthways Childbirth Resource Center, Inc. since 1980. She has been a teacher and social worker of high-risk youth, as well as a prenatal educator, counselor and birth assistant for over 30 years.