Belize

Belize is a beautiful country that borders Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. It has a land area slightly smaller than Massachusetts. The country’s terrain consists of flat, coastal plains and low mountains in the south. The climate is tropical, with distinct dry and rainy seasons. The dry season lasts from February to May and the rainy season lasts from May to November.

The population in Belize is 321,115 and 43% of the people live below the poverty line. Belize is the only Central American country where English is the official language, even though Spanish is spoken by 46% of the population and English is only spoken by 3.9% of the people. Many other languages are spoken in the country, including Creole, Mayan dialects, German and several others. Belize has a diverse cultural mix with Central American, Caribbean, and African ties.

The food in Belize is inspired by British, Mexican and Western Caribbean cooking. The basic ingredients are rice and beans, which are normally eaten with chicken, pork, fish or vegetables. Coconut milk and fried plantains are added to the dishes to create a delicious tropical taste. Belizean food is almost always accompanied by white rice in coconut milk.

Tourism plays a very important role in the economy of Belize. In fact, it provides 25% of all jobs in the country. Some exciting attractions include the Belize Barrier Reef (which is the longest reef in the Western Hemisphere), 127 offshore islands, various wildlife reserves, tropical rainforests, exotic Mayan ruins and some of the best scuba diving in the world. The country also exports marine products, citrus fruits, cane sugar, bananas, and clothing.

Development in Belize

HELP International began operations in Belize in 2010. We operate in the safe community of San Ignacio. Development projects in Belize include public health campaigns, square foot gardens, soilets, orphanage work, construction, and education programs such as leadership training, conflict resolution, and computer classes. HELP maintains great partnerships with fantastic organizations such as the Red Cross of Belize, the Cornerstone Foundation, La Loma Luz Hospital, and the George Price Center of Peace and Development.

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Belize

Development in Belize

See HELP in Belize