Eco-Health and Service with the Mayans in Belize

Name: Eco-Health and Service with the Mayans in Belize
Brand: 7 Elements
SKU: 245666
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

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5.00 Rating

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Location

Belize
- Belize City

Length

1 to 2 weeks

Project Types

Community Development Building Projects Service Learning Social Services Youth Conservation Environmental Conservation Education Human Rights Indigenous Rights

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Program Details

Age Min.

Age Max

Timeframe

Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter

Housing

Lodge

Groups

Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)

Travel Type

Family Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price

1220

Price Details

Program tuition covers all in-country transportation, lodging, excursions, project expenses and international travel medical insurance for all participants. Total program tuition does not include flight cost or transport prior to arrival in country.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Equipment Transportation Travel Insurance Wifi

What's Not Included

Airfare Airport Transfers SIM cards Visa Wifi

Last Updated: Dec 06, 2019

Last Reviewed: May 29, 2019

Wish List

7 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Increased migration to Belize has increased tensions between Belizean and immigrant communities. Despite increased tension, immigrant communities are trying to retain their Maya cultural identity, in the face of resistance from the government and lack of integration, political representation, and cultural respect. We are working with Maya communities in Southern Belize to improve the standard of living by addressing these primary issues. Our educational focus is on the cultural impacts of immigration to other countries and preservation of traditions and customs.

Students in this program will explore the native landscape and culture; including visits to the Mayan ruins, traditional medicine, meetings with local organizations, hikes to natural wonders, ethnic cuisine, and snorkeling in one of the world's largest living barrier reefs.

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Video and Photos

Lesson about traditional medicine from bush doctor

Students swimming in the waterfall of the Rio Blanco National Park

Working alongside community members in the construction of the community center

Students assembling the frame and digging to form the cafeteria of the community center

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Program Highlights

Learn about Traditional Mayan Medicine
Visit the Ancient Mayan Ruins!
Snorkel in one of the world's largest living Coral Reefs!
Revitalize the Medina Bank community center with our community partners
Live at the rustic Mayan Green Forest Adventures Lodge

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating

based on 2 reviews

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4 rating 0%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 5
Support 5
Fun 5
Value 5
Safety 5

Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews

I attended 7 Element's Belize program through a college chapter of 7 Elements, and it was one of the best abroad experiences that I've had. From the get-go, 7e staff were very helpful with our flights and program planning, and we were able to tailor some of the night time global health/human security discussions towards our club's personal interest in sustainable agriculture, ecology, and understanding the historical context behind some of the country's socioeconomic disparities. We stayed in beautiful Hopkins, but were working primarily on sustainability projects and community needs assessments in two Maya communities in central Belize (Medina Bank & Indian Creek). We also spent a day working with the local school in Hopkins! We also fit in some days of fun, including visiting Xunantunich, going to a Garifuna cultural center, and going snorkeling to a secluded island. I have participated in two 7e programs, and I will be going back soon! Not only is this a great experience, but you have the opportunity to build on language skills, as well as build a resume geared toward a future carrier in multiple ecological and medical fields. The staff is so supportive - I can't wait to return!

What would you improve about this program?

I don't have anything negative to say about the program...lodging was quaint and beautiful, food was local and tasty, and I made great friends and changed my perspective :) Belize is a welcoming, easy-to-navigate country.

I had an incredible time travelling to Belize with 7e! I helped to plan this trip through my university chapter and it was one of the best things I have ever done. My trip to Belize was unique as it was 7 Elements first ever Belize trip. I feel like because of this the work we got to do felt extra special; we were in charge of community diagnostics reporting, where we basically went door to door in rural communities and had meetings with local leaders to determine what the community needs and wants. We then were able to use this information to design the projects that 7e is now working on in these Mayan villages. In addition to this we also helped to construct a pavillion outside of a school in Hopkins so that local children has an area to study and play in the shade. Besides the meaningful work we did we also were able to explore ancient Mayan ruins (super cool!) and snorkel in the Belizean Barrier Reef, which to this day is one of the most beautiful and surreal experiences I have ever had. I love 7 Elements as an organization so much that I have stayed in close contact with them over the years, have had multiple internships with them, and have travelled to some of their other program countries around Central and South America! I 100% recommend this program to anyone who may be thinking about it.

What would you improve about this program?

The only thing I would change about this trip is to make it longer :) When it came time to leave I just wasn't ready yet!

A girl and a dog sitting on a tree on the beach during sunset.

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program for a few different reasons. First of all, travelling to Central America has never disappointed me and I had never been to Belize before and was up for a new destination! Everyone i've known who has gone to Belize has raved about how beautiful the country is and how amazing of an experience they had there, and I am so happy to join them now having been to Belize myself.

In addition, I was really interested in some of the excursions the program offered. I had just taken a class on Mayan culture, and it was incredible to be able to travel to see some of the Mayan ruins and work in Mayan communities first-hand. Overall, it seemed like it would not only be a gorgeous destination, but full of culture and history as well.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Personally, I helped to organize this trip through the chapter of 7 Elements my college had on campus, and as such I believe that I was in charge of organizing more than the average traveller would. That being said, I chose to take on this role and was so happy that I did. The work I put in to organizing taking myself and other students to Belize totally paid off! Not to mention that the 7 Elements staff was so supportive every step of the way, they helped us coordinate our flights, transportation, gave us fundraising tips, and were always available to answer any question we had.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

One thing that I think is important to stress about this program is that it is more of an authentic travel experience and not like visiting Belize and staying at a resort would be like. I think you have to be prepared for hard work and to not have all the amenities that they may be accustomed to living in a more developed area. That being said, it is an incredible and unique experience that if done with the right mindset is super rewarding and life-changing.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The days on this trip vary greatly. As it has a service component, there are a mixture of service days and what 7 Elements calls excursion days. Some days you may be working in the hot sun on a construction site and others you might be exploring ruins or snorkeling the Belize Barrier Reef. Everyday is a fun and exciting new adventure. Every night after dinner there are nightly discussions that cover a wide range of topics such as human security, history of Belize, and other sustainability and international development related topics. The discussions were some of my favorite parts of my this trip! I felt like I learned so much and could really take something from it.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I think travelling abroad as a female there is always a small part of me that fears I will be in an unsafe situation. However, having travelled fairly extensively in different parts of the world I've never had an issue. In fact, Belize was one of the most welcoming countries i've ever been to and everyone made me feel so welcome and safe at all times. I think it's always best to exercise proper caution and make sure you aren't putting yourself in dangerous situations, just like you would do at home, and you'll be just fine.

How has this program continued to impact your life after departure?

This was my first trip with 7 Elements and I never would have imagined it to change my life in the ways that it has. I was so inspired by the work that 7 Elements does that I reached back out to them and have continued to work for them for the past few years and I fully support their mission and everything they stand for. I have always had an interest in international development work, but am aware that there are organizations out there that, while they may be good intentioned, end up doing more harm in local communities than good.

I am so happy to report that 7 Elements is definitely not one of these organizations. I am in awe of the work that they do, and they are definitely on the forefront of development organizations making impact, lasting, sustainable change in the work that they do. I support them 100% and hope to continue working with them in the future.

Staff Interviews

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

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memories are spending time with local community members in the Dominican Republic, going to local colmados or sitting on the porch and drinking coffee. Some of the best memories included nights where I was listening to people talk about their lives. The slow and intentional moments with people stand out to me the most.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Working with 7 Elements has exposed me to amazing culture and new perspectives that I otherwise would not have. Your life and the way you see things has the power to change vastly when you are put in new and situations. Travel abroad to developing countries has taught me that context matters and there isn't always a black and white answer. That is why it is so important to meet people where they are and see from their lens.

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

The coolest stories I hear from return students are about the awesome organizations and initiatives they spearhead when they go home. I think that is the most important and coolest part of service learning. You learn that you are capable and have the tools to make impact wherever you live. You are empowered to be the change you want to see.

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

I would love to travel to Peru and work with the Yanesha community. The country is beautiful and I would love to learn more about this indigenous tribe in Peru that is trying to preserve their culture. Our program also teaches about local coffee production and other economic sources. I am a huge coffee fan, so I would love to learn more about Peruvian coffee!

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

7 Elements is unique because we approach student immersion and community relationships as holistically as we can, from start to finish. No project or initiative is started until our community engagement process is completed, which allows our community partners to be a huge part of the process from the beginning to the end. We bring students and include them in this process to learn what community engagement looks like. We focus on reciprocal relationships that hold community wants to the same regard as our students. We pair our excellent projects with a carefully designed curriculum to reinforce and drive home further the development and Human Security concepts students are interfacing with on our programs.

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

A successful company needs team buy in and a mission/vision that all team members stand behind. That is the core of the output and what a company is able to do for their customers. Our team believes in ethics behind development and the importance of engaging young, brilliant minds with these concepts. I think it is these factors that makes our programs excellent.

About 7 Elements

7 Elements is an Ethical Service Learning Organization with programs Dominican Republic, Belize and Peru. We provide experiential learning through hands on sustainable development projects and curriculum designed for each program that focus on international development, service learning, and human security issues around the world. We partner with...