The economic hardship, caused by the coronavirus pandemic continues, with no immediate end in sight. And so, organizations and persons around the country have been engaging in humanitarian efforts to try and ease some of the sufferings of some of the poorer Belizean families.
The Ya'axche Conservation Trust recently rolled out a food assistance program for Toledo families living in the Indigenous Maya Communities located in the Maya Golden Landscape. With funds provided by the European Union and the ICCO Cooperation Forest Governance Project, they distributed food baskets to 150 needy families in that part of the country.
With video provided by Ya'axche, here's what 2 senior executives of the NGO had to say about the helping hand they are trying to provide to the beneficiaries:
Christina Garcia - Exec. Dir., Ya'axche Conservation Trust
"Over the past days, Ya'axche has been giving out some COVID-19 relief, in the form of food baskets to 150 families in the Maya Golden Landscape. These communities include Trio, Bladen, Golden Stream, Medina Bank, Indian Creek, Big Falls, San Miguel, Silver Creek, San Jose, and Aguacate. This is all good because we know that in this time of hardship, there are a lot of families that are in dire need right now of these food baskets. And thanks to the partnership that Ya'axche has with the European Union, we have made the food baskets available for these families. We're hoping that it will help them, especially through this hardship. Ya'axche is hoping that we can do a second phase of the COVID-19 relief food baskets to families in the Maya Golden Landscape."
Marvin Vasquez - Project Manager, Ya'axche Conservation Trust
"For the past 3 years, Yaaxche has been part of a project funded by the European Union. This project is entitled Forest Governance and Indigenous Communities, and we're aiming to improve how these communities govern their forest and their natural resources. The European Union has asked project partners to consider providing assistance to communities in this time of the pandemic. As you may be observing around you, COVID-19 has affected drastically the lives of households, communities, families. People have lost jobs. This has created pressure on households in terms of maintaining a healthy environment and a healthy family. So, what has happened is that from the projects, we have been able to mobilize funds to provide a food pantry. So, what Ya'axche has been doing this week, it has organized and prepared 150 food baskets for the families. Ya'axche extends its gratitude to the Forest Governance Project, which is supported by Eco-Cooperation, and the European Union."
Some of the items provided in the food baskets include corn, beans, rice, flour, milk, cereals, oil, coffee, detergents, hand sanitizer, bleach, and other hygiene items. Ya'axche plans to continue the second phase of the distribution of food baskets in the upcoming weeks.
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