Color
By LAN SLUDER
Belize First
Want to take a break from school, work or other regular responsibilities?
Would you like to help others less fortunate than you, or perhaps
do something for the world by assisting in conservation activities?
Would you like to learn a new skill, or spend time investigating
the mysteries of the Maya world? Then you may want to investigate
volunteer opportunities in Belize.
KINDS OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN BELIZE
In Belize there are basically three kinds of volunteer opportunities
available:
• Church and medical-related "mission" work. This typically involves a week to several weeks of volunteer
work in a medical or dental clinic, building churches or homes
or other assistance. Usually these mission groups are based outside
of Belize, often at a church or school or as a part of a local
medical society, and typically volunteers travel to Belize at
the same time, as a group. In most cases, volunteers pay for their
own transportation to Belize, along with personal expenses in
the country, but food and lodging sometimes is provided by the
mission, paid for by donations. Because these medical and religious
missions are so diverse and fragmented, it's not possible to provide
a list of them. Your best bet is to contact your church, college
or local medical society and ask if they know of missions to Belize.
• Organized volunteer programs. These organized programs are of two general types: In the first,
which may be run either by a for-profit firm such as a travel
company or by a not-for-profit charity or university, volunteers
provide for their own transportation to and within Belize, pay
a fee -- perhaps US$10 to $25 a day -- for lodging and board and
may also pay a placement fee or "contribution" which can be several
hundred dollars or more. Some "volunteer" programs of several
weeks or months in length can cost the volunteer thousands of
dollars. In the case of the second type, volunteers do not pay
a fee and they may receive food and lodging in exchange for their
volunteer work, but they usually have to pay transportation and
incidental expenses out of pocket.
In Belize typically these volunteer programs revolve either around
conservation, such as working with wildlife or reef preservation,
or around archeology, with volunteers assisting on a dig at a
Maya site. A few programs offer volunteer opportunities in education,
animal care or social work. Some of these programs are Belize-based,
such as those at the Belize Zoo or Programme for Belize. Others
are based in the U.S., U.K. or elsewhere outside Belize.
Advantages of these structured programs include the fact that
they are available to all kinds of volunteers and that they usually
can be arranged ahead of time, before arriving in Belize. A commitment
of at least a couple of weeks is often required for these programs,
which benefits both the organization which has to train volunteers
and the volunteers themselves who require time to adjust to the
work and the Belize climate and environment.
For contact information, see the listing of volunteer organizations
below.
•Independent volunteering. In Belize, as in most countries, it is possible and, in most
cases, easy to just go to a worthwhile organization and volunteer
your services. Conservation organizations, churches, libraries,
medical clinics, humane societies, schools are among those that
may welcome volunteers. For example, the YWCA in Belize City accept
volunteers to help teach sports and arts activities. But there
are hundreds of churches and schools in Belize, and many of these
would welcome volunteers to help out with teaching, outreach or
other activities. Usually, you will not receive any lodging or
food in return for your volunteer activities, but in a few cases
this might be available. To arrange this kind of independent volunteer
work, it is usually necessary to be in Belize and to make personal
contact with the organization you are seeking to help. It is rare
that you will be able to arrange satisfactory volunteer work before
you arrive. In fact, most of these volunteer opportunities in
Belize are completely unstructured. It's up to YOU to dig out
areas of need and then to go and volunteer your services.
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS
This information was accurate at time of publication, but things
change quickly. Check with individual organizations directly for
current information. Note that many of these organizations charge
fees -- which may be tax-deductible as contributions -- for transportation,
room, board and placement.
WITHIN BELIZE
Belize Audubon Society, 12 Fort St., P.O. Box 1001, Belize City, Belize, C.A.; tel. 501-223-5004;
]www.belizeaudubon.org ;
e-mail base@btl.net For more than 32 years, BAS has long been
considered the premier conservation organization in Belize, and
the amount of good it has done is unmeasurable. BAS, which is
entirely independent from the National Audubon Society, has 1,700
members. Through an agreement with the Government of Belize, it
manages eight parks and protected areas including Cockscomb, Crooked
Tree, Half Moon Caye and Tapir Mountain. While BAS does not have
a highly organized volunteer program, those interested in volunteering
can contact BAS to see if any help is needed in the office or
in its education and field programs. The annual Christmas Bird
Count, held in Belize City, Punta Gorda, Belmopan and Gallon Jug,
is a time when volunteer birders do their things.
Belize YWCA, 119 St. Thomas & Freetown Road, P.O. Box 158, Belize City, Belize,
C.A.;
tel. 501-224-4971; e-mail ywca@btl.net The YWCA accept volunteers
for its sports, arts and other other programs.
Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, P.O. Box 1787, Belize City, Belize, C.A.; tel. 501-220-8003; www.belizezoo.org ; e-mail tec@btl.net The Belize Zoo is one of the truly great conservation organizations
in Central America, and its director, Sharon Matola, has done
a tremendous amount to further eco awareness and education in
Belize, though her work has not always been appreciated by the
powers-that-be in Belize. The adjoining Tropical Education Center
offers a wide range of education and outreach programs. Motivated
volunteers may be accepted to assist Belize Zoo and TEC programs.
Birds Without Borders/Aves Sin Fronteras, c/o 10005 West Blue Mound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226 • 414-258-2333; www.zoosociety.org Birds
Without Borders is a research, education and conservation organization
coordinated by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County (Wisconsin).
It operates in Belize in association with the Belize Zoo and Tropical
Education Center and with private landowners. The group was formed
in 1996 to study migratory birds common to both Wisconsin and
Belize (there are at least 114 of these common species). Occasional
volunteer opportunities may be available.
Cornerstone Foundation, 90 Burns Avenue, San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize, C.A.; tel. 501-824-2373; www.peacecorner.org ; e-mail
peace@btl.net This non-profit organization is one of the best-known
volunteer organizations in Belize. Its programs include various
cultural, community service, and peace-related volunteer programs
in Cayo District. Volunteers commit for a minimum of three weeks
(three months in the longer-term programs). For longer-term programs,
individuals pay US$300 to $400 a month for housing, couples and
families US$600. There is a US$100 application fee, a weekly meal
fee of around US$15 and other fees. Those involved in three-week
programs such as the AIDS Education or Natural Healing programs
pay a fee of around US$550 to $650. At any one time, the foundation
may have from one to 18 volunteers in Belize, plus local administers
and staff.
Green Reef, 100 Coconut Drive, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize, C.A.;
tel. 501-226-3254 ext 243;
e-mail greenreef@btl.net Founded in 1996, Green Reef is a private,
non-profit group based in San Pedro, devoted to protecting Belize's
marine and coastal resources. Among its projects are establishing
mooring buoys to protect the barrier reef, the management of two
cayes near Ambergris as bird sanctuaries and monitoring Jewfish
populations in Belize. Green Reef currently doesn't have a volunteer
coordinator, but it says it is interested in hearing from prospective
volunteers, especially those with skills in Web design, photography,
fund-raising, community involvement and education. In the past
it has had Peace Corps members as full-time volunteers and has
worked with Smith College and Kansas State University to bring
in volunteers.
King's Children Home, 38/40 Unity Blvd., P.O. Box 144, Belmopan, Belize, C.A.; tel.
501-822-2021: The King’s Children Home is a non-profit organization
which assists children in Belize who have lost their parent(s)
through death, have been abandoned, abused and/or neglected. KCH
needs volunteers to help out, for any period of time, but preferable
for 2-6 month periods or longer. Volunteers work with kids from
1-18 years of age. Activities may include tutoring, counseling,
clerical duties and pre-schooling.
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Box 187, Belmopan, Belize, C.A.; tel. 501-820-3032; www.monkeybaybelize.org ; e-mail mbay@btl.net Monkey Bay is a private wildlife sanctuary
and environmental education center on 1,070 acres near the Belize
Zoo. Links to other conservation organizations in Belize and Monkey
Bay's own programs provide some volunteer opportunities in conservation
and community service. Monkey Bay also offers home stay programs,
as well as 12- to 21-day education and adventure programs for
students (middle school to university). The education programs
are at rates of about US$75 a day.
Mount Carmel High School, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo, Belize, C.A.
; e-mail mchs@btl.net This school is highly unusual in that it
has an all-volunteer faculty. Volunteers, who must be four-year
university graduates and be "willing to teach in a Catholic environment,"
commit to teach for a period of one to two years, and in return
they receive room, board and US$12.50/week in spending money.
The minimum commitment is one school year, from mid-August until
mid-June and the typical length is two years with the summer off.
Living arrangements are spartan but clean. Meals are taken together
in the rectory. For information, e-mail mchs@btl.net with the
name of the school principal, Tim Robinson, in the subject line.
Programme for Belize, 1 Eyre Street, P.O. Box 749, Belize City, Belize, C.A.; tel. 501-227-5616;
www.pfbelize.org ; e-mail: pfbel@btl.net
This completely Belizean-run organization manages the 260,000-acre
Rio Bravo Conservation and Management area, the country's second-largest
protected reserve, representing about 4% of Belize's land area.
Programme for Belize accepts paying guests at its Rio Bravo and
Hill Bank research stations, where visitors enjoy simple but pleasant
accommodations and hearty local fare. Volunteer opportunities
may occasionally be available, both in conservation and in archeology.
La Milpa is one of about 60 Maya sites on the Rio Bravo lands.
(Note: Also see University of Texas/Programme for Belize Archeological
Project below.)
SAGA Society, Coconut Drive, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, C.A.; tel. 501-226-3266;
www.ambergriscaye.com/sagasociety/ ;
e-mail saga@btl.net Saga is a non-profit organization, founded
in 1999, whose purpose is to assist homeless and suffering dogs,
cats and other animals on Ambergris Caye. Most of the stray dogs
and cats on Ambergris, as elsewhere in Belize, are not neutered,
and many are undernourished with a variety of diseases. The local
approach to control has been to use strychnine poison. Saga is
trying to raise funds to build an animal shelter on the island
and to establish a subsidized neutering program. This small group
has no organized volunteer program, but local volunteers are welcomed.
More volunteers will be needed if and when a shelter is up and
running.
Teachers for a Better Belize is an all-volunteer partnership of educators from North America and Belize who work to improve the training of teachers and the education of children in the rural Toledo district of Belize. TFABB aids Toledo's primary-school teachers and principals with training, supplies, and facilities required to help their students achieve academic success and thereby escape poverty. They have organized annual teacher-training and/or school-related construction projects in Belize since 1997.
Teachers for a Better Belize
13606 Peacock Farms Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63131-1232
(314) 822-1569
info@tfabb.org
Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE), P.O. Box 150, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District, Belize, C.A.;
tel. 501-722-2274 ;
e-mail tidetours@btl.net Formed in 1997, TIDE focuses on conservation
in Toledo District. The group helps manage the Port Honduras Marine
Reserve and Paynes Creek National Park. To raise funds, it offers
ecotours. Contact the organization to see what volunteer opportunities
may be available.
Wildlife Care Center of Belize, c/o Robin Brockett, Director, wildlifecarecenter@yahoo.com This
small operation, supported by Woodland Park Zoological Society
(601 North 59th St., Seattle, WA 98103, tel. 206-615-1030), and
working with the Belize government agencies, is a "way station" for rescued birds and other wildlife, located near the Belize
Zoo at the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Occasionally, self-supporting
volunteers are accepted for periods of a month or more. Interested
persons should contact Robin Brockett.
OPERATING IN BELIZE BUT BASED OUTSIDE BELIZE:
Belize Faith Missions, c/o Conner's Bookkeeping, 5790 Riverside Ave., Riverside, CA
92506; www.belizefaithmissions.org ;
e-mail support@bzfaith.org A variety of volunteer and religious
mission opportunities are available, ranging from one- and two-week
programs to longer-term pastoring positions. Accommodations and
food may be provided volunteers.
Earthwatch International, 3 Clock Tower Place, Suite 100, Box 75, Maynard, MA 01754; tel.
800-776-0188; www.earthwatch.org ; e-mail info@earthatch.org Founded in 1971, the not-for-profit
Earthwatch specializes in scientific research expeditions. Paying
volunteers (expeditions range in cost from US$700 to $4,000, depending
on length, plus transportation) are paired with professional scientists
in the field. So far, about 4,000 volunteers have participated
in Earthwatch programs. Most projects are 10 to 14 days, but some
are longer. In Belize, Earthwatch has a continuing program studying
manatees, with about 10 or 12 expeditions a year, and in the past
has had archeological programs. The cost for 2003 is US$1,695
plus air fare and incidental expenses.
Explorations in Travel, Inc., 2458 River Rd., Guilford, VT 05301; tel. 802-257-0152; www.volunteertravel.com
;e-mail explore@volunteertravel.com Places volunteers and interns
at several sites in Belize, including Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.
Commitment is usually for two to three weeks. Volunteers typically
pay US$15 to $20 per day for meals and lodging, and there is a
placement fee of US$975.
EcoLogic Development Fund, P.O. Box 383405, Cambridge, MA 02238; tel. 617-441-6300; www.ecologic.org ;
e-mail info@ecologic.org EcoLogic works with local Maya organizations
in protect their homelands from a government-sanctioned logging
concession. EcoLogic is also working to create Mayan alternatives
to managing Sarstoon-Temash National Park that respect traditional
land rights and safeguard areas of biodiversity. In 2002, EcoLogic
was seeking an intern for a minimum three-month commitment to
work as an organizational assistant with the Ketchi Council of
Belize in Punta Gorda. The position is unpaid but EcoLogic says
it will assist the volunteer to find funding for room, board and
transportation.
International Service Community in Belize, ISC, P.O. Box 380, Swarthmore, PA 19081-0380; isc.swarthmore.edu.
ISC's goal is "to permit volunteers to use a lifetime of experience
to provide service areas of need in the world for a few months
each year while also enjoying the experience to travel and of
community living." Volunteers, mostly retired persons, stay at
Crytal Paradise Lodge near San Ignacio. In 2003, the ISC program
in Belize will operate during the month of January and for the
first two weeks of March. Recent projects by volunteers include
researching and writing a booklet on lodges in Belize that offer
good birding and helping develop nutritionally sound meal programs
for elderly Belizeans. The cost is about US$30 to $40 a day for
lodging and two meals, close to the same as the regular resort
rate at Crystal Paradise, plus transportation to Belize. Begun
in 1995, ISC also has a pilot program in Sri Lanka.
Maya Research Program at Blue Creek, Box 298760, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129;
tel. 817-257-5943; www.mayaresearchprogram.org . This archeological research station,
organized by Texas Christian University, is in Blue Creek, in
rural Orange Walk District. It attracts about 30 students and
paying volunteers to each of four two-week programs, where they
work with 15 to 30 professional staff. The day starts around 6
a.m., with breakfast at 6:30, and most of the work day (until
3:30 p.m.) involves strenuous activity at a Maya site. Your required
contribution (likely tax-deductible) is US$1,250 for a two-week
program (US$1,000 for each program if you participate in two or
more programs) which includes lodging and food, but not transportation
to Belize or personal expenses. A small number of scholarships
is available for students who intend to pursue archeology as a
career. Academic credit through TCU or another university may
be available.
Plenty International, www.plenty.org ; e-mail plenty1@usit.net . Plenty places volunteers with medical, midwifery, marketing and
other skills in Toledo District and elsewhere. This grassroots
organization, founded in Tennessee in 1974, places 8 to 10 volunteers
a year, mostly in Belize. There is a minimum three-month commitment.
A nominal (US$30) placement fee is charged, and there are no stipends
or other payments to volunteers, but in some cases volunteers
may receive food and housing.
Raleigh International, 27 Parsons Green Lane, London SW6 4H, England: tel. 44 (0) 20-7371-8585; www.raleigh.org.uk ; e-mail
info@raleigh.org.uk This U.K.-based organization runs 11 three-month
expeditions a year in seven countries. It operated volunteer projects
in Belize for five years, including building trails in Cockscomb
and in scarlet macaw habitat near Red Bank village. Raleigh says
it will run at least two expeditions in Belize starting in 2003,
details of which have not yet been announced. Programs are for
young people ages 17 to 25. Note: In August 1998, a Raleigh volunteer
was stabbed to death near Red Bank village in Stann Creek district.
Two local men were arrested and convicted of the crime.
Trekforce Expeditions, 34 Buckingham Palace Road, London, England, SW1W 0RE; tel. 020
7828 2275; www.trekforce.org.uk ;
e-mail info@trekforce.org.uk Trekforce bills itself as an "expedition
charity." It has two basic programs, a shorter program of about
two months which involves a project in the rainforest such as
building a visitor center at a national park; and a longer program,
about five months, that adds rural teaching and language learning
components. About 1,000 volunteers so far have participated in
Trekforce programs around the world. When you sign up for an expedition,
you "become a member of our charity and are authorized to raise
money on our behalf." Volunteers can raise money to pay for their
expedition just about any way they like -- by holding raffles,
bake sales, car washes or by soliciting funds from corporations
and friends. Trekforce currently offers several 8- and 20-week
expeditions in Belize each year. The 8-week expedition costs 2,350
pounds (about US$3,400) and the 20-week 3,600 pounds (US$5,200),
in both cases plus airfare.
University of California Research Expeditions, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616;
tel. 530-757-3529;
e-mail urep@ucdavis.edu UC-Davis runs four two-week programs on
rainforest mammals in the Bladen watershed area of Toledo District.
Participants count and measure trees, survey populations of birds
and mammals and document the types of seeds they consume. Animals
are tagged, weighed and released. Cost ("contribution") is US$1,660
plus airfare and incidentals. Some scholarships are available.
University of Texas/Programme for Belize Archeological Project, Mesoamerican Archaeological Research Laboratory, The University
of Texas, Austin, TX 78712; tel.
512-232-7049;
e-mail: marl@uts.cc.utexas.edu The University of Texas at Austin,
Department of Anthropology, since 1992 has operated a field research
station on Programme for Belize lands. Volunteers must commit
for a minimum of one week, up to a maximum of 15 weeks. The field
school program involves survey, excavation at several Maya sites,
and laboratory experience working directly with excavated Maya
artifacts. Field techniques, lectures on Maya culture history
and instruction concerning artifact analysis are provided during
each session. Program fees are US$620/week or US$1880/4 weeks;
after 4 weeks, the cost is US$300 for each additional week, up
to 15 weeks. Fees are plus transport to Belize and personal expenses,
but do include meals and lodging. Students have the opportunity
to earn university credits.
World Challenge Expeditions, tel. 020 8728 7206; www.world-challenge.co.uk ;
e-mail: ahart@world-challenge.co.uk World Challenge offers teaching
and conservation placements in several areas of Belize, for periods
of either three or six months. Teaching placements are in rural
schools in Corozal, Orange Walk and Cayo districts; conservation
placements could be with a warden at a marine reserve or at a
visitor center at a park. Volunteers, mostly under age 25, are
given an orientation course before coming to Belize and a short
in-country orientation. You live with a local host family and
pay about US$175 for lodging and meals, plus around US$2,800 placement
fee, which includes training and air fare.
TIPS FOR GETTING MORE OUT OF YOUR VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:
* Don't expect to get free room and board or other compensation.
In some cases, this may happen but more commonly you will have
to pay your own way and may even have to pay a fee for the "privilege"
of volunteering.
* Expect to work hard. Some programs such as archeological digs
require hard manual labor. Initially at least you also will have
to acclimate your body to Belize's hot, humid sub-tropical climate.
* You may have to put up with primitive living conditions. While
some medical mission volunteers stay at nice hotels, many volunteers
will be living on the local, staying in Belize-style housing (usually
without air-conditioning or even fans and perhaps without indoor
plumbing). Conservation and archeological volunteers may basically
camp out.
* Volunteer organizations and their programs change constantly,
so be sure you have the latest information on programs and costs.
The most up-to-date information is usually on the Internet. Just
go to a search engine such as Google and search using key words
such as "volunteer work Belize." Also, check out specialized Web
sites on working, going to school and volunteering abroad, such
as www.gapyear.com and www.transitionsabroad.com.
* Although volunteer organizations usually do good work, keep
in mind that for the staff and administrators these programs may
be their career or at least a job. Some of the international volunteer
organizations are relatively large businesses, and in at least
a few cases their good works appear to be subsidiary to maintaining
and building the organization.
* A work permit may be required in Belize, even for short-term
volunteer work. There is a small fee, usually US$25. For information,
contact the volunteer organization or the Immigration and Nationality
Department, 501-822-2611 or the Labour Department 501-822-2204.
* Have realistic expectations of what you can accomplish in a
short time. Belize has many problems, ranging from underfunded
schools to crime, drug and gang problems to family disintegration
and child abuse issues to destruction of the rainforest and natural
habitats, and none of these will be solved quickly.
* The most typical volunteer in Belize is a college student or
a young person who has recently finished college, but volunteers
come in all ages and from all backgrounds.
* While not really volunteer organizations, a number of specialized
travel and education organizations such as ElderHostel (Box 1959,
Dept. 35, Wakefield, MA 01880; tel. 877-426-8056; www.elderhostel.org) offer trips and programs in Belize. Many of these are worth investigating.
* For longer-term volunteering, consider the U.S. Peace Corps, which has a significant presence in Belize.
* Several web sites claim to offer links to volunteer opportunities in the region. One that has links to free or low-cost volunteer opportunities in Central and South America (but few in Belize at present) is www.volunteersouthamerica.net.
Copyright Lan Sluder 2004-2007.