Hosted by Toucan Education Programs Inc.

Service Learning in Belize

Name: Service Learning in Belize
Brand: Toucan Education Programs Inc.
SKU: 219445
Rating: 10 (3 reviews)

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Location

Belize
- San Ignacio

Length

1 to 2 weeks

Project Types

Arts Business Community Development Building Projects Service Learning Social Services Youth Conservation Reforestation Education Teaching Computer Literacy Health Professional Development Refugee Relief +5

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Program Details

Language

English

Age Min.

Age Max

Timeframe

Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter

Housing

Guesthouse Hotel

Groups

Small Group (1-15)

Pricing

Starting Price

$2,898 USD

Price Details

15 - 20 hours of community service
Interactive intercultural learning co-curriculum
Housing 8 nights / 9 days in Belize (double & triple occupancy)
Breakfast & dinner (some lunch)
4 group excursions
Airport transfers in Belize (group arrival and departure days only)
Daily transportation to project site
Emergency Medical Insurance
Pre-departure orientation
On-site orientation
24 / 7 participant support

What's Included

Accommodation Some Activities Some Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance

What's Not Included

Airfare Some Meals

Last Updated: Jul 28, 2021

Last Reviewed: Sep 30, 2018

About Program

Engage beyond your borders in a service-learning program that invites you to connect directly and meaningfully to the people and cultures of Belize.

Our community projects will help you will gain practical career-oriented skills, hone your personal interest and increase your cultural understanding while you engage in an interactive intercultural co-curriculum.

Make a lasting positive impact through projects such as classroom renovation, literacy development, reforestation, and so much more.

Service-learning and civic engagement clubs are encouraged to contact us to arrange for custom dates if our advertised dates conflict with their availability. Join us!

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Video and Photos

Service-learning participants painting a classroom

Service-learning participants with TEP staff painting classrooms

Service-learning participants explore traditional medicine trail

Unpainted classrooms at local high school.

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Program Highlights

Community projects that contributes to human development
Minimum of 15 hours dedicated to community service
Cultural, historical excursions, and guest lectures
Interactive intercultural learning co-curriculum
Community partners committed to participant learning

Program Impact

Participants in the Service-learning in Belize program will have a unique opportunity to positively impact local communities through their enrichment projects. Imagine enhancing classrooms, working on murals, supporting reforestation, contributing to literacy development in underserved communities, or supporting other local grassroots organizations in meaningful ways.

We invite you to visit our website and our Delivering THE SLE FACTOR™ page to learn how your time with us positively impacts our communities.

Program Reviews

10 Rating

based on 3 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

9-10 rating 100%
7-8 rating 0%
5-6 rating 0%
3-4 rating 0%
1-2 rating 0%

Academics 6
Support 10
Fun 10
Housing 9.7
Safety 10

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

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.

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.

Me at the University of Belize Central Farm

Our Cohort with the Farmers on our last day with them

At The University Of Belize Central Farm try jams made by the university.

Meeting with a local school Principal Jeaneane Vanessa Neal

Me being silly on our one of our last days on Hopkins Beach.

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!)

Questions & Answers

Staff Interviews

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

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.

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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 Inc.

Discover THE SLE FACTOR™ (Serve, Learn, Explore) when you study abroad with Toucan Education Programs (Toucan). Toucan offers 5 high-quality programs for college students that include: Internships, Service-learning, Sustainable Development, Cultural Learning, and Natural Resouce Tourism: Planning and Perspectives. Our study abroad programs are...

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