Other U.S. Agencies in Belize

PEACE CORPS BELIZE

HISTORY

Peace Corps was invited to serve in Belize - then British Honduras - in 1962.  Since then, nearly 1,800 volunteers have served in Belize.  Throughout this time, there has been close cooperation and friendship between volunteers and the Belizean people with whom they have worked.

Peace Corps/Belize has worked in collaboration with the Government of Belize, non-government organizations, and community-based organizations.  The first volunteers worked primarily as classroom teachers, but more recent volunteers have worked as teacher trainers, health educators, rural community development workers, secondary school teachers, vocational educators, sports/PE coordinators, environmental educators, agricultural specialists, marine biologists, archaeologists, youth organizers and HIV/AIDS prevention and education coordinators.  Each volunteer has left an impression on Belize and its people, and each has taken back to the United States impressions of the people of Belize.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Peace Corps volunteers have left permanent marks through their service in Belize.  To mention a few:

• A Peace Corps volunteer started the Lynn School for mentally handicapped children, which later became part of the Stella Maris School.

• Belize’s strong 4H program got a helpful start through the work of Peace Corps volunteers and has grown into a country-wide program.

• With shovels and hand tools, Peace Corps volunteers built school buildings and teachers' houses in remote Toledo Mayan villages where no construction equipment could reach.

• Volunteers working with the National Sports Council helped to launch the first Special Olympics, the Belize Games, Bike and Hike, and the Fun Run. 

• Working with the International Rescue Committee, volunteers in refugee villages have built more than 35 water tanks and latrines, and more than 40 schools and community centers.

• Peace Corps volunteers assisted with the development of Guanacaste Park, which was subsequently dedicated in their honor.

• Youth volunteers assisted in the establishment and strengthening of programs at the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse (NOPCA).

• Peace Corps volunteers assisted with the training of teachers, the development of the new comprehensive curriculum and establishment of the Ministry of Education Information Technology project. So far over 1,000 teachers have received training in computer skills.

• IT technicians have established a training curriculum in troubleshooting, maintenance and computer repair for the Center for Employment Training students.

TODAY

Each year, approximately 60 volunteers serve in Belize.  They work in several key project areas:

• Community Organizational & Enterprise Development – working to enable businesses, community groups, cooperatives, national parks, and other organizations to increase income generating opportunities for their community members.

• Health Communities – working to advance nutrition, health, and sanitation for people living in rural villages.

• Youth Development – working to improve the lives of young people by providing access to activities that teach job & life skills and promote healthy decision making, including the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

• Education – working to enhance primary school education and literacy by providing outstanding training to teachers in classroom management and teaching techniques.   

For more information about the Peace Corps, please visit the Peace Corps website.

THE PEACE CORPS ACT

To promote world peace and friendship, the government of the United States of Amercia will make available to interested countries and areas, men and women of the United States, qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower, particularly in meeting the basic needs of those living in the poorest areas of such countries, and to help promote a better understanding of the American people on the part of the peoples served and a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American people.

 

GOALS OF THE PEACE CORPS

1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of peoples served.
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.