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Service-Learning & Gap Year: Winter, Spring Break, Summer

Service-Learning & Gap Year: Winter, Spring Break, Summer

Toucan Education Programs Logo with its mission
Toucan Education Programs
5 · 3 reviews
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Toucan Education Programs

 5 · 3 reviews
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Location
  • Belize
    • San Ignacio
Length
1 week
Project Types
Arts Community Development Building Projects Service Learning Social Services Youth Conservation Historic Preservation Reforestation Education Teaching Computer Literacy Health Education Sexual Health +4
General grants/scholarships, Payment plans
Health & Safety
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Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
19
Age Max
25
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter
Housing
Guesthouse Hotel
Groups
Small Group (1-15)
Travel Type
Budget

Pricing

$3,390
Price Details
• Academic Support: Engagement with our Academic Director, who provides learning support
• Accommodation & Meals: Shared program housing for the 8 nights/9 days duration.
• All in-Country Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included throughout the program.
• Comprehensive Orientation: Detailed Pre-departure and In-Country Orientation to ensure a smooth, safe, and culturally prepared arrival.
• In-Country Transportation: All required transportation, including daily transfers to your service project site and all sponsored excursions.
• Premium Safety Coverage: Ultimate Medical $500K Travel Insurance with emergency medical evacuation coverage.
• 24/7 Support: Dedicated in-country staff providing 24/7 emergency and crisis management.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Meals Transportation Travel Insurance Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Equipment Visa
Nov 10, 2025
Sep 30, 2018
Wish List
16 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Ready for a high-impact experience that fits your break schedule? Toucan Education Programs' International Service-Learning (ISL) program is the perfect credit-eligible opportunity for Winter/Jan Term, Spring Break, Summer, or Gap Year exploration.

In just 8 nights / 9 days, you can dedicate a minimum of 18-21 hours to meaningful, community-engaged projects. This program is designed to transform you into a responsible global citizen. The experience combines focused service with immersive cultural excursions, themed guest lectures, and essential academic content.

You'll complete Toucan's Intercultural Learning Co-Curriculum (ILC) (pre-departure, in-country, and re-entry modules) to ensure you develop in-demand skills like adaptability, critical thinking, and intercultural communication. You'll document your journey through a Digital Storytelling Project.

Student organizations can also contact us to customize their own dates! Launch your global journey and make a tangible impact.

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Program Highlights

  • Short-Term & Credit-Eligible: This highly productive 8 nights/9 days program is credit-eligible
  • High-Impact Service: Complete a minimum of 18-21 hours of community-engaged projects, directly assisting local organizations in areas like cultural and historical interviews, health, and education, and more.
  • Advanced Cultural Fluency: Participate in the structured Intercultural Learning Co-Curriculum (ILC) to build skills employers value, like collaboration and intercultural communication.
  • Immersive Learning: Combine service with themed guest lectures from local experts, daily digital journaling, and cultural sites like the Xunantunich archaeological reserve
  • Group Flexibility: We offer flexible options for student organizations to choose their own program dates if our advertised sessions do not fit their calendar.

📢 2026 Belize Programs are Open!

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Video and Photos

Video thumbnail Play Video
Students engaged in Maya cultural immersive learning in Belize.
Students engaged in enrichment project for older adults in Belize
The impact of community enrichment service-learning projects.
Students learning about traditional medicines in Belize
Students explore ancient Maya archeological reserves.
Students engaged in enrichment project in rural Belize

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Impact 🌎

Our programs are designed with a deep respect for Belize's unique environment and culture. We emphasize responsible practices and community engagement, fostering a positive impact for future generations.
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Students and young professionals become active contributors to a sustainable future by choosing our programs. They support reforestation in the host community, high school education of local young people, and foster intercultural understanding through community engagement.
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Program Impact

Toucan's International Service-Learning (ISL) & Gap Year program fosters reciprocal engagement between participants and Belizean communities, focusing on real-world issues in development.

Your involvement will lead to visible improvements in communities, including:
• Enhancing Learning Environments: Collaborate on projects that improve literacy and educational access through classroom renovations and essential materials.
• Building Pride & Well-being: Transform community spaces to promote pride and provide uplifting environments for children and adults.
• Preserving Cultural Heritage: Document oral histories and traditional practices to help preserve Belizean culture.
• Addressing Local Needs: Engage in projects that target specific community needs, from social services to entrepreneurship.

Through hands-on work, you will gain valuable skills:
• Professional Development: Enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
• Global Citizenship: Understand the principles of responsible global citizenship.
• Cultural Fluency: Appreciate diverse histories and cultures, improving communication and self-reflection.

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 3 reviews
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  • Academics 3.35
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Housing 5
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
ChrisTindle
Chris
30
Male
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Time in the Serving in Belize

Sep 30, 2018

While the service learning was not academically challenging; that was not the point of this experience. Instead, the time in Belize revolved around experience, cultural identity, and a celebration of others cultural identities. Throughout my stay we visited the San Ignacio Marketplace, we visited Xunatunich, an ancient Mayan Temple, we cooked with Garifuna and Kriol people some of their traditional foods and it was incredible. This, in addition to, we painted classrooms for some of the most joyous kids I've ever seen. They were so full of life and curiosity; very indicative of the Belizean people as a whole. Everywhere we went we were asked as many questions about where we were from as we asked the locals. Overall it was an incredible experience and we did so much more than can be mentioned in a single review.

What would you improve about this program?
I would love to see more of a focus on the Garifuna and Kriol people that inhabit Belize. As a black man; it was very important to see cultural representation outside of the United States. It was very important for me to see people of color outside of the normal standards of the United States. I think it would have been nice to delve deeper into the differences of our black culture versus the Belizean black culture.
208 people found this review helpful.
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Chris in Xunatunich
Marquis
31
Male
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Studying Abroad With Toucan Education Program July 2018.

Sep 30, 2018

Studying abroad with TEP was my first time out if the country. My FIRST TIME ON A PLANE. I have always been afraid to fly but I am so glad I tackled that fear this past summer (2018) because the experience was amazing. The diversity of the cultures, the tropical environment, and let us not forget about the FOOD all was great. I cannot wait to go back to Belize. Our endeavors while there gave us real-life experience with people who are different but, everyone there accepted us with one arms. I learned so much more about the world because of this eye opening experience. Ms. Rhondine, Ms. Abbiola, Mr. Roberto, and Ms. Elissa treated our cohort so well. Thank you soooooo much for the opportunity.

226 people found this review helpful.
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Me at the University of Belize Central Farm
Our Cohort with the Farmers on our last day with them
Our cohort after lunch
At The University Of Belize Central Farm try jams made by the university.
Dinner in Belize
Boat ride to the Mayan Ruins
Meeting with a local school Principal Jeaneane Vanessa Neal
Me being silly on our one of our last days on Hopkins Beach.
Katie
45
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wonderful experience

Jun 7, 2018

I went as college staff with a group of students and I could not have been more impressed with the support we received and the people that we met. Our students did not want to leave! We made so many connections and memories, and I saw a lot of individual growth in our students-- some of whom had never even traveled on a plane! Wonderful food, top-notch service, and really wonderful people met along every step of the way, from the program providers themselves to the people we were put in contact with. There was something for everyone in this experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has never traveled internationally before as a first experience (though I would recommend it to veteran travelers as well!)

228 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Abbiola Ballah

Program
Service-Learning & Gap Year: Winter, Spring Break, Summer
Thumbnail

As TEP's Education Abroad Program Manager, Abbiola works on all aspects of programming from design to implementation.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she has spent most of her adult life studying, living and working abroad in Japan and the USA. She is dedicated to fostering social change in education and has obtained two MA degrees in Applied Linguistics & TESOL and International Education.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I have been lucky to travel a great deal in my life over the years. My best travel memory has to be going to Thailand. I visited there is the winter 2005 during my first year living in Japan. It was the first country I was able to check off of my bucket list.

Thailand reminded me so much of the Caribbean because of the weather and the rich culture. It was amazing to be able to see so many similarities in a country so far away from my own. I think the best part was being able to immerse myself into the culture and interact with the Thai people. It was unforgettable.

How have you grown since working for your current company?

I have grown considerably both personally and professionally since working for Toucan Education Programs.

Toucan Education Programs values its employees and I have felt this in every aspect of my work life.

This motivates me to be innovative, share my ideas, work towards improving our current programs and designing new programs for our participants. It has also given me the platform to give back to the community through the work we do on our programs.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of the amazing things about our participants is that they get so invested in their service projects that they usually keep in contact with the organization after returning home.

One alumna is still in contact with the members of the youth group she established during her time in Belize. She still assists them with any questions they have and just check in with them from time to time. This is definitely one of the best stories I have heard since it shows how engaged our community becomes with our participants.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

The Service-Learning in Belize program would certainly be my program choice especially if it was my first time abroad. I’m able to do meaningful service projects while learning about the Belizean culture. Also, the reflection based curriculum allows me to really go in-depth with this 9 day experience. I love that it allows you to focus on one project for 5 days as well as integrates cultural activities so you can immerse yourself and get a better understanding of Belize.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our commitment to reciprocity makes TEP unique. We want both our participants and the Belizeans they interact with to grow personally and professionally for their experience on our programs. I am especially proud that each member of our team works in sync to ensure that this takes place. We are a small team but we put a lot of effort into ensuring every stakeholder gets the most out of every experience with us.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe the biggest factor in being successful is surrounding yourself with like-minded people. At TEP, we are all committed to our mission and vision. We believe that we can make a difference in both the lives of our participants and the Belizean community through our programs. Every day we are working together towards fulfilling our goals and on making an impact on the Belizean community and our participants.

About Toucan Education Programs

A Locally Operated Social Enterprise Committed to Ethical and Responsible Travel Immersive study abroad experiences in Belize are offered by Toucan, which is aligned with our mission of Serve, Learn, Explore. Our programs are designed to connect students with meaningful opportunities, contributing to local development while gaining transfer...

  • Go Overseas Award

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