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14 women from numerous civil society organizations, industries and sectors across Belize were recognized today for their contributions within their field of expertise, for creating long lasting impacts that have paved the way for future generations of women. The Executive Director for The National Women's Commission told us that often women go unrecognized for their silent yet significant work within society and as career professionals, which is why over the past 2 decades they have given some of these women a platform to be celebrated.

Eleanor Murillo, Executive Director, National Women's Commission
"The Outstanding Women's Award has been going on for 20 years and so, during women's month we honour women across the country in specific fields using the Beijing Platform for Action. So we have like the girl child here today a young woman who will get an award, women in the media, women for human rights and women in poverty so we have 14 ladies who will be awarded here this morning as I said from a wide range of backgrounds and its a part of the empowerment it is a part of celebrating the achievement of women in Belize."

"We have women who do a lot behind the scenes. They don't do it for clout, they don't do it for recognition, they don't do it for money. Many of them have their regular jobs and then they do all these extra things behind the scenes, working with different organisations to support communities and especially women so we think it is fitting that these women from across the country are recognised."

One of these women who served as a keynote speaker with an impactful testimony, was Monique Lamb, the first international female captain in Belize to captain a 200 ton vessel. Lamb says she hopes her story will not only inspire others but encourage more women to make their mark in male dominated fields.

Monique Lamb, Captain, Belize Aggressor
"Women in life we go through a lot and at the end of the day we are the ones who have to thrive to keep our head above water and being able to celebrate this entire month or be recognised I think it is a very positive movement just to show appreciation that we are doing great we are doing excellent and with the position that I hold and being the first international female captain in Belize woman a 200 ton vessel if young girls are out there and they are not seeing role models like myself then they are not going to be able to dream to become a captain so I want to make myself visible out here so they are able to dream big and don't be afraid to accomplish anything that they want to accomplish in life and some of these roles have been historically dominated by men but they don't have to be afraid anymore because we are out here and women are doing an incredible job breaking barriers and trail blazing."

One of those trailblazers in the environmental field is none other than Elma Kay who serves as the managing director for the Belize Maya Forest Trust. She expressed her deepest gratitude for being chosen among all her other peers within this diverse field.

Elma Kay, Managing Director, Belize Maya Forrest Trust
"I am super honoured to be receiving this outstanding women of Belize award in the women in environment category its a real honour and I feel touched that they thought about me and awarding me but what I really feel is huge inspiration just drawing from all of the other awardees you know one of the things that strike me is we like to say in Belize you know we know, everybody knows everybody but one of the things that I found as the work that I do in environment but also working through the Belize network of NGO's and interacting with more women in other spaces that work on human rights and you know different walks of life is that I keep meeting these inspirational and remarkable women. And so I think today is just a real celebration of what women can achieve because women are intelligent, they are powerful and there are so many roles that they can fulfil that if we had a just society in which everybody had equal opportunities the world would be just a much better place because you know women are about families and are about communities, about service to country and so I think more than anything I just feel inspired."