Discover one of the world's best kept secrets; Belize is a small but perfectly formed country, a place off the beaten track where you can immerse yourself in a new and exotic culture. Awaken the explorer within you by stumbling across ancient Mayan ruins in the tropical jungle or take the plunge below the surface of the Caribbean Sea to discover the hidden treasures located around the many beautiful islands that scatter Belize’s coast. With the longest barrier reef in the Northern hemisphere on your door step there are plenty of opportunities to encounter an astonishing array of exotic marine life and relax on deserted beaches.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
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Work alongside local indigenous communities
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Helping to preserve the natural beauty of Belize & conserve its amazing wildlife
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Make lifelong friends and return with incredible photos and memories
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
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CV required
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Minimum 2 month placement
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Location |
Belize |
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Activities |
Working with a local NGO to promoting sustainable livelihoods
Developing agroforestry initiatives
Environmental education
Establishing and supporting trade links
Working with indigenous people
School workshops |
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Transport |
Airport pick-up on arrival and transfer to project site |
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Accommodation |
Local guest house / Apartment (cost not included) |
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Before you go |
Pre-departure support & documentation
Dedicated personal travel adviser
Travel & medical advice
Advice on visas & equipment
Discounted medical kit
Free Frontier t-shirt
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In-country |
Airport pick-up & internal transfer to project site
Project orientation and training
In-country emergency support
24-hour international HQ back-up |
What Next? Apply Now!
WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?
Conservation in Belize is in its infancy, but an increasing human population and demands of a growing economy threaten the country's natural resources and abundant wildlife. The resulting environmental problems urgently need tackling. Belize’s unique coastal and tropical rainforest landscapes are a vital habitat for rare and exotic flora and fauna, and while the number of national parks and protected areas is slowly growing, illegal logging and poaching is rife and protected area management plans must be developed to aid the conservation of these special ecosystem.
Depending on your own skills and experience you will have the opportunity to work with the Maya and Garifuna indigenous populations living in and around the national park on a wide range of initiatives, supporting local communities and encouraging a sustainable approach to population growth and natural resource use, helping to preserve the beautiful and unique rainforest for the next generation. We are looking for volunteers to bring their own skills and experience to this vital project with the view to extending skills and knowledge to the local community.
WHAT WILL I BE DOING?
Help to protect Belize’s unique beauty by working on this project that strives to develop methods of income generation that have a positive impact on indigenous communities, whilst conserving the natural environment and protecting precious natural resources.
In recognition of the close ties between poverty and environmental degradation, the project works to create methods of income generation that are environmentally sustainable. The project is based in and around a national park and the work you will participate in is varied and will depend upon the focus of the project at the time of your visit. Activities could include planting organic crops, constructing new facilities, community gardening projects, rainforest management activities and awareness raising workshops in schools like promoting sustainable activities such as chicken rearing.
This project looks to utilise skilled volunteers to develop and grow the achievements of this local NGO. Specifically we are looking to source individuals from the following specialisms:
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Biologist / Ecologist
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Journalist / Blogger
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Strategic Planner
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IT Specialist / Web Designer / Online Marketing
Please speak to a Frontier Travel Advisor for more information of the kind of skills and experience this project in looking for in its volunteers and for the proposed itinerary and start date for each internship.
What Next? Apply Now!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?
Upon arrival at Punta Gorda Municipal Airstrip, Toledo District, you will be met by a friendly local staff member and transferred to the project site. Once you have had time to rest the local staff will introduce you to your project and the local area. Your in-country coordinator will be more than happy to help you settle in and acclimatise and you'll feel at home in no time in this friendly, vibrant country.
PLEASE CHECK AVAILABILITY BEFORE APPLYING FOR THIS POPULAR PROJECT!
WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?
Throughout your placement you will be based in a small village in a relatively remote area of Southern Belize. You will be responsible for booking your own accommodation once in Belize along with the help of your dedicated travel adviser and local management team. Initially, most volunteers opt to stay at the local guest house, which is a great way of socialising with other visitors to the area, before renting your own apartment close to the project site. An apartment can cost in the region of USD $200 - $300 per month.
WHAT WILL I BE EATING?
A fantastic aspect of this project is that it is self catered, giving you a fantastic opportunity to sample the nearby restaurants and discover local specialities, immersing you within the community. You may even wish to visit local street markets and shops to pick up fresh and exotic ingredients to create your own meals or simply relax in loacal bars, soaking up the laid back ambience of this Central American country.
The staple of Belizean cuisine is the classic rice and beans, often the two being cooked together in coconut milk. A truly authentic Belizean dinner would pair either of these with stewed or fried chicken, beef or fish. Other food to look out for includes potato salad, fried ripe plantains, spicy soup, and plenty of fresh exotic fruits and vegetables.
What Next? Apply Now!
Closest place to paradise
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23 Feb 2012
Belize is the closest place I have come to paradise! I found this internship so fun and valuable ...
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ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Your volunteering placement will be based in a local community in a small remote village in Southern Belize. Therefore in the evenings and during the weekends in your free time, the kinds of activities you can get involved in will be fairly limited. Despite this, you are sure to want to explore this fascinating country either before the start or after the end of your placement. Belize has much to offer, as a melting pot for Central American and Caribbean culture, it has a rich and interesting history. Why not take a tour around the fascinating ruins of Mayan civilization, or learn about English buccaneers, African slaves and Spanish conquistadors.
If all of this gets too much, relax on one of hundreds of stunning white sand beaches or take a sailing trip around the many islands that litter Belize’s coastline. In the more touristy areas there are endless marine activities that you could participate in, ranging from scuba diving to kite surfing. For those seeking an adrenaline rush test your nerves on a zip-line though the jungle canopy, go off the beaten track by exploring mysterious caves, or take a canoe down a peaceful jungle river to observe the best of Belize’s stunning nature.
