Volunteer Opportunities in Belize (Updated)
BZEFIRST
several listings since this was last posted.
--Lan Sluder
>>
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN BELIZE
By LAN SLUDER
Belize First
www.belizefirst.com
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 ba...@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 yw...@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 t...@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 pe...@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; www.greenreefbelize.com ; e-mail gree...@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.
Mount Carmel High School, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo, Belize, C.A.;
www.belizeweb.com/MCHS/; e-mail mc...@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 mc...@btl.net with the
name of the school principal, Tim Robinson, in the subject line.
Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE), P.O. Box 150, Punta
Gorda Town, Toledo District, Belize, C.A.; tel. 501-722-2274 ;
www.belizeecotours.org ; e-mail tide...@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.
Programme for Belize, 1 Eyre Street, P.O. Box 749, Belize City, Belize, C.A.;
tel. 501-227-5616; www.pfbelize.org ; e-mail: pf...@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.)
Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Box 187, Belmopan, Belize, C.A.; tel.
501-820-3032; www.monkeybaybelize.org ; e-mail mb...@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.
SAGA Society Coconut Drive, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, C.A.; tel.
501-226-3266; www.ambergriscaye.com/sagasociety/; e-mail sa...@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.
Wildlife Care Center of Belize, c/o Robin Brockett, Director,
wildlifec...@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.
OUTSIDE BELIZE:
Belize Faith Missions, c/o Conner's Bookkeeping, 5790 Riverside Ave.,
Riverside, CA 92506; www.belizefaithmissions.org ; e-mail sup...@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 in...@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 exp...@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 in...@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.
Kimochi Work camps, P.O. Box 316, Boulder, CO 80306, tel. 303-494-9542;
www.bitahnii.com ; e-mail ccam...@carbon.cudenver.edu : This group mainly has
work camps (mainly construction work on buildings for an organization called
Indigenous Institute of Relevant Technology) near a Navaho Indian reservation
in New Mexico, but from June 16-28, 2002, it held one in Belize, at the Center
for Mayan Learning. Fee was US$200, plus transportation and personal expenses.
Maya Research Program at Blue Creek, Box 298760, Texas Christian University,
Fort Worth, TX 76129; tel. 817-257-5943; www.mayaresearchprogram.org ; e-mail
m...@tcu.edu : Blue Creek 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 ple...@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 in...@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 in...@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; www.urep.ucdavis.edu ;
e-mail ur...@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; www.uts.cc.utexas.edu/~marl ; e-mail: ma...@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: ah...@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, or a retired person, 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.