Bonner Global Village:
Orange Walk, Belize
A partnership with Peacework
Partnership History
This partnership was founded as one of the Bonner Global Village Network's pilot sites in May 2012 through the Bonner Global Village Conference in partnership with the Peacework Development Fund, a long-time international Bonner partner organization that works around the world in establishing global partnerships for integrated development.
About this Community: Orange Walk, Belize
A population of just fewer than forty thousand makes Orange Walk Belize's third largest populated district! The town of Orange Walk (within the district of the same name) has a population of 22,000, and is a largely Hispanic settlement. Situated on the New River and Northern Highway, Orange Walk Town is located 52 miles north of Belize City. The country's only tollbooth signals the entrance to Orange Walk Town, and after paying the small toll, one immediately notices two distinctive sites: the scenic New River and the smokestacks of the sugar mill. Roads stemming from Orange Walk access a plethora of various small villages, which also house a handful of small, lesser known archaeological sites. The town is a cultural mix of Spanish, Maya, Mestizos, Creoles, East Indians, Mennonites and Chinese. Mexican influences remain strong and the town exhibits the area's historical bond with Mexico both culturally and physically, as most residents are Spanish-speaking Mestizos. The other widely spoken languages in this district are Spanish, English and Creole. In the heart of town sits the 100-year old La Inmaculada Church, one of the many evidences of Spanish influence prevalent in Orange Walk. The British colonial history is also very much in evidence.
Projects and Programs
This year, Bonners will travel to Orange Walk, Belize to teach Social Entrepreneurship to primary school youth as a way to help them build their communities, while also stimulating the economy. They will be working in St. Peter's Anglican School and the Louisiana Government School. The curriculum, called "Build Yourself, Build Belize", integrates the Bonner Common Commitments and encourages students to create their own jobs through Social Entrepreneurship and will be tested for application in other Bonner Global Village communities in the future.
Impact & Future Ideas
- character education
- sports camps
- scholarships
Back to Bonner Global Village Network
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