This morning, Program For Belize, the NGO which manages the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, awarded 6 scholarships to students living in communities near to the conservation area. The reserve which they manage is located in Southern Orange Walk all the way down to parts of the Belize River Valley
They want to assist those needy families with deserving children who are attending high school. Their reasoning is that if these young villagers are educated, they will do less exploitation of the natural resources that make up a part of Rio Bravo, and that decreases the pressure on the reserve.
We got a chance to meet a few of the awardees, and here's what they had to say:
Edilberto Romero- Executive Director, Program for Belize
"Every year the Massachusetts Audubon Society and people donate monies to the scholarship program and we get grants from the Massachusetts Audubon Society from those birding tours and it is that money that we used to give scholarships to communities around Rio Bravo. The idea is to help communities around the reserves because in these communities there are very little employment opportunities and so helping with education is a way to open up the employment opportunities the career opportunities for people from the communities. So, the idea is that of we do that then they will be less dependent on the natural resources which means less pressures on the reserves. This year they gave us a grant of $4,000 Bz. And that is what we used to give six high school scholarships. It is six high school scholarships and it is five communities. We have two from August Pine Ridge, one from San Felipe, one from San Carlos, one from Lemonal and one from Rancho Dolores. And it is benefitting four high-schools: Muffle's, Belize Rural High School, Belize High School of Agriculture, and Corozal Adventist College; so, it is four of them."
Kerwin Torres - Scholarship Recipient for 3 Years
"I am currently attending Muffle's College High School and I am in fourth form. Well, I've been getting the scholarship for the last three years and this will be the fourth one. Well, how I feel about it is, as you know, worries are less about paying bills and even the school now. And now, I will have more time to think about my studies than worry about financial needs. My grades are good and I've managed to pass. This scholarship also encourages me because I see myself helping my parents and by helping them I have to do better in school"
Ed Canizales - 1st Time Scholarship Recipient
"I am from San Felipe Village."
Reporter
"So, how do you feel or how do your parents feel being assisted financially by Program for Belize and this scholarship?"
Ed Canizales
"I feel proud of myself and I think my parents feel proud too. And I want to thank Program for Belize because they are helping my parents financially because my sister will attend second form. And so, we are having little problems with money."
Reporter
"So will you study hard?"
Ed Canizales
"Yes."
The funds for these scholarships came from friends and supporters of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and Program for Belize.
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