Earlier on we took you to Steadfast Village in the Stann Creek district where villagers were up in arms about a proposed development in their community.
And while those villagers were angry - in another small village, this one on the old Northern Highway - villagers are satisfied and settling in with a new community center.
In St. Ann's village - home to about 300 - the center will be the hub for training in the processing of local products and manufacturing of craft items by the community women's group. For this community that thrived in the days when the old northern highway was the only northern highway - the center brings the hope that the community can regain some of its former glory.
The center opened on Sunday and here are a few highlights:
Daniel Cano, Executive Director - SIF
"This new resource center is intended to be a hub for training in the processing of local products and manufacturing of craft and sewn goods for the residents of St. Ann Village. The project will also equipped the Hidden Beauty Women's Group of St. Ann Village to stimulate income generation in the community of processing of local products and manufacturing of craft and sewn goods that be sold to tourists in the area. The income generation component of this project is where the real success of this project lies when the women's group is able to sell or earn an income to grow their enterprise to further their children's education to strengthen their families then we will be able to see poverty reduction. I implore the group and the leaders to persevere onward."
Hon. Edmund Castro
"When one pass through your village for them to get a good glimpse of how well you are doing one of the things they would glance at is your community building how nice the yard is and how beautiful the building is, your burying ground to make sure that you even have respect for your dead."
The project will benefit 87 residents of St Ann's.
The project was implemented by the Social Investment Fund and cost two hundred thousand dollars.
Established in 1920 when chicle and logwood industries thrived in that area, St Ann's is one of the oldest villages along the old northern highway in the Belize District.
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